The UK government has strongly criticized recent anti-migrant demonstrations in Portsmouth, describing the conduct of protesters as “thuggish” and intimidating. The comments came from Emma Reynolds, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who spoke to Sky News regarding the unrest in the English coastal city.
On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Portsmouth after approximately 140 migrants arrived by boat from France. Reynolds stated that police successfully restored order, but condemned the actions of those involved in the disturbance.
The Portsmouth incident followed similar disruptions at the port of Dover on Saturday, where masked individuals blocked traffic and halted ferry services between the UK and France. Video footage captured protesters wearing balaclavas chanting slogans against migration, reportedly supported by far-right groups. The blockade at Dover resulted in a four-mile traffic jam and temporarily stopped vehicle movement into and out of the terminal.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Labour Party acknowledged the fundamental right to peaceful protest in a democracy but explicitly condemned the behavior and travel disruptions caused in both Dover and Portsmouth.
Britain has faced ongoing challenges with small-boat crossings from France for several years. However, Reynolds noted that arrivals have decreased by 43% compared to the previous year, with roughly 17,000 migrants arriving so far this year.
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