Hundreds of protesters have descended on Portsmouth after a small boat thought to be carrying asylum seekers and heading towards the coast sparked a major response involving a helicopter, aeroplane and lifeboats. The boat’s occupants have been brought to shore in the maritime city, where it is understood they will be processed as is routine for small boats.
Protesters gather as occupants brought ashore
Videos circulating on social media show groups of people being taken on lifeboats to shore, where several coaches are parked. Around 500 demonstrators are believed to have joined a protest in the area, with some dressed in all black – similar to those who joined an anti-illegal migrant protest which blocked the Port of Dover on Saturday.
Cllr George Madgwick, leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, wrote in a post on X that “over 100 migrant men” had arrived on the Portsmouth shores on Sunday.
Political reaction to the arrival
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted: “This week Andy Burnham struck an agreement for 45 more officers on French beaches. Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time. This is a joke. Only Reform will send the boats back.”
The party’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick posted: “The invasion comes to Portsmouth. Home of the Royal Navy. Reform will end this humiliation.”
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, posted: “Extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west. We don’t know if this migrant boat was headed for the Isle of Wight but I’ll be contacting the Home Office first thing. We need to know exactly what happened and if new routes are being used for mega-dinghies by people smugglers.”
Agencies respond and Home Office statement
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: “In response to a report on September 6 of a small boat heading towards the Hampshire coast, HM Coastguard sent lifeboats, an HM Coastguard helicopter, an HM Coastguard aeroplane and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams. Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were also sent.”
In a livestream from the scene, Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of the right-wing activist Tommy Robinson – encouraged viewers to travel to Portsmouth to join the protest.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings and restoring control at our border. Joint efforts have seen over 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats and engines seized since the election. We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020. But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.”
