UK’s minister condemns anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth

British minister Emma Reynolds expressed strong condemnation for the anti-migrant protests that occurred in Portsmouth, England, on Sunday night. The demonstrations blocked streets in an attempt to prevent migrants from France from arriving, and Reynolds labeled the protesters as "thuggish." This incident marked the second anti-migrant protest in just two days, following a similar event in Dover on Saturday where masked individuals disrupted traffic and chanted "Stop the boats."

Reynolds, who serves as the chief secretary to the Treasury, stated that the protests were unprecedented in scale, though the police managed to control the situation. The British government has been criticized by opposition parties and anti-migration activists for not adequately addressing the influx of asylum seekers, often arriving in overcrowded inflatable boats.

The number of migrant arrivals to the UK from January to September 1st stood at approximately 17,000, marking a 43% decrease compared to the same period last year. The protesters' actions were in response to the arrival of 140 migrants who crossed the English Channel. These individuals were chanting in support of their cause, employing messaging systems like Signal and Telegram to coordinate their efforts.

Reynolds expressed concern over the rapid organization of the protests, labeling the behavior as "thuggish and intimidating." Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for the area, noted that while the protesters were largely peaceful, the large gathering required assistance from officers stationed in other regions. She highlighted that Portsmouth and other southern English locations were not equipped to handle both the public order and the processing of these undocumented migrants.