UK PM denounces ‘politics of poison’ after anti-migrant protests

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed a closed-door meeting with Labour Party lawmakers, warning against the "politics of poison" that has been seeping into the streets. Following demonstrations aimed at blocking the arrival of migrants in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Burnham emphasized the need to counter fear with positivity and hope.

The protest, organized by a group called Patriot Platform, involved 200 masked individuals who disrupted the disembarkation of migrants. The UK Home Office condemned the "intimidating and thuggish behaviour" witnessed in Portsmouth, stating that the right to peaceful protest must not cross into disorder. The demonstration was the second significant anti-migrant incident in a weekend, with a similar event on Saturday blocking access to the Port of Dover.

Hampshire's police and crime commissioner expressed concern over the use of small boats for illegal crossings farther west, while a government official denied any evidence suggesting a change in smugglers' strategies. Despite recent drops in irregular migrant crossings, Britain continues to grapple with the issue, and Burnham announced the deployment of additional officers to French beaches to combat the influx.