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Protestors Gather in Portsmouth as Migrants Arrive in Small Boat
Confirmed
In Short: Hundreds of demonstrators descended on Portsmouth to protest the arrival of migrants in a small boat, clashing with those brought to shore.
Protestors gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday evening as a small boat containing asylum seekers arrived, sparking a major response from authorities including Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police, and South Central Ambulance Service.
The boat, which launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, brought up to 140 illegal immigrants to the shores of Hampshire for the first time.
Around 500 demonstrators, some dressed in all black, joined the protest, facing off against the migrants who were brought to shore to be processed.
Reform UK, a political party, has announced a plan to intercept boats and return migrants to French ports using the Royal Navy, a move that has been met with both support and criticism.
What's confirmed
- Around 500 demonstrators are believed to have joined a protest in the area, with some dressed in all black - similar those who joined an anti-illegal migrant protest which blocked the Port of Dover yesterday.
- Only Reform will send the boats back." Around 500 demonstrators are believed to have joined a protest in the area, with some dressed in all black Meanwhile, the party’s economic spokesman Robert Jenrick posted: “The invasion comes to Portsmouth.
- Videos circulating on social media show groups of people being taken on lifeboats to shore near the Eastney Landing ferry port, where several coaches are parked.
- Reform will end this humiliation.” “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.
- The dinghy, reported to be carrying some 140 migrants, sparked a major response as it headed towards the coast, with a helicopter, aeroplane and lifeboats sent to the scene.
What's still developing
- Challenged during a news conference over whether the wording "ordinarily" meant some migrants would not be accepted by France, Farage said it was "legalese".
- Farage said the "historic document" would "stop the boats forever".
- Last year Sir Keir Starmer's government also signed a "one in, one out deal", which allows the UK to send some small boat-arrivals back to France, while agreeing to take the same number of people from France believed to have a legitimate claim to come to the UK.
- Nigel Farage has agreed a deal with France's hard-right National Rally (RN) party on returning migrants who attempt to cross the English Channel in small boats, should both parties win power.
- France hits out at Reform UK plan to return migrants using Navy Nigel Farage meets French far-right leader in London The "memorandum of understanding" unveiled at the conference is a political document, but could be developed into a legal agreement between two future governments, if both parties win power.
- "France will ordinarily accept these persons, who will be repatriated to their home country in accordance with the law in force in France concerning expulsion." Illegal migrants who successfully arrive in the UK from France would be immediately detained and deported to their home country, rather than to France, under plans previously outlined by Reform.
- The boat launched earlier today, where occupants have been brought to shore to be processed, with videos on social media showing groups being taken on lifeboats to land where several coaches are parked.
- GB News can confirm the vessel to be among six migrant dinghies launched today, with three boats making it to UK waters by the afternoon.