UK PM denounces 'politics of poison' after anti-migrant protests

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham condemned the "politics of poison" spilling onto the streets after demonstrators attempted to prevent the arrival of migrants, according to a media report on Monday. The protest occurred in southern England, a region authorities worry is becoming a new route for small boat crossings from France.

In a private meeting with lawmakers, Burnham emphasized the importance of countering fear with positivity and hope, stating it is the party's responsibility to prevent the spread of such negativity.

Thousands of asylum seekers have crossed the English Channel from France aboard makeshift boats, typically between Calais and Dover, where the distance between the French and English coasts is the shortest. On Sunday, the UK coastguard rescued a vessel carrying 140 migrants who had departed from the French coast near Normandy. Later, around 200 masked protesters, some wearing face coverings, disrupted the migrants' disembarkation in Portsmouth, Hampshire, blocking roads and surrounding buses with riot shields.

The crowd dispersed around 4:00 am, and the migrants were eventually transported to a processing center.

The Home Office, Britain's interior ministry, denounced the "intimidating and thuggish behavior" witnessed in Portsmouth, emphasizing that while the right to peaceful protest is essential to democracy, it must not cross into disorder. This was the second significant anti-migrant protest of the weekend, following similar events on Saturday where masked men blocked access to the Port of Dover for several hours.

The events were organized by a group called Patriot Platform, founded by Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Local Conservative lawmaker Joe Robertson expressed concern about the illegal migrant crossings in Hampshire, stating that the region is not equipped to handle such arrivals and questions if new routes are being utilized by people smugglers. Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, emphasized that Portsmouth is ill-prepared to receive and process migrants arriving by boat, adding that the government must ensure the southern coast of Britain remains secure to prevent future incidents.

A UK government official stated there was no evidence that the smugglers had altered their tactics at this stage. Britain has been facing challenges in addressing the perilous small boat journeys, with tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving annually on the southeast coast since recent years. The crossings, often undertaken by those fleeing war and famine, have gained attention from the hard-right Reform UK party, which has gained ground since the 2024 general election.

The Labour government claims progress in tackling the issue, partly due to agreements with France and tightening of the asylum system. According to Home Office data, 16,513 irregular migrants crossed the Channel since the beginning of the year, a 40 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Prime Minister Burnham recently announced the deployment of 45 additional officers to French beaches to aid in combating the rise in passengers per boat.