Daniel Thomas, founder of the anti-migrant group Patriot Platform and an associate of Tommy Robinson, confronted Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf on September 7, 2026, in Portsmouth. Thomas, also known as 'Danny Tommo', interrupted Yusuf during an interview and urged him to convey a message to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, stating that Farage needs to be "careful with his words."
Thomas claimed that Farage had previously referred to protesters at the Unite the Kingdom rally in London as "knuckle-draggers." "You have to tell Nigel… he called us knuckle-draggers," Thomas stated. He added, "I understand Nigel is going to be prime minister one day and I understand he has to set a standard, which will basically be that you know he can't just come out and say everything's great and these guys are fantastic, but Nigel needs to be very careful with his words."
Thomas explained that the masked attire of his group members is a protective measure against targeting by "the Left in this country." He described his group as composed of "working-class men who are bricklayers, who are roofers, who are carpenters" who build infrastructure. "The reason they're covering their faces is because we know they're going to be targeted," he said.
Thomas also informed Yusuf that Patriot Platform aims to create a "voting bloc" within 12 to 18 months, intending to support the party most capable of "bring[ing] this country back into order." He warned that if Farage continues to "slander" his group, they might be pushed towards supporting other parties.
Reform UK stated that its leader, Nigel Farage, had previously described the protests in Dover as "disgusting." Yusuf, present at the scene of a protest following the arrival of approximately 140 migrants in Portsmouth, told Thomas that "nobody has done more to raise this issue, and taken a load of flack for it, than Nigel Farage." Yusuf assured Thomas he would relay the message.
Yusuf also emphasized the importance of avoiding violence against police officers, stating, "There is never any excuse for violence against police officers who are doing their job." Thomas maintained that there was no violence during the Dover protests and that the intimidation some felt was due to masked faces, not the intent of his group.
Regarding the incident, Yusuf commented that he was taught not to be rude and walk away, and that he listened to Thomas's concerns. He described the conversation as respectful. Yusuf also placed blame for any disorder on the government, criticizing its handling of migrant arrivals and what he termed "state-sponsored thuggery" in maintaining open borders.
Thomas's Patriot Platform was founded in June and promotes itself as a means to counter the arrival of migrants by small boats. His group's recent actions at Dover were characterized by Kent Police as "spontaneous."
The events in Portsmouth saw anti-migration protesters attempt to block migrants from being transported for processing. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary reported that official vehicles were damaged and several police officers sustained injuries during the stand-off. Approximately 200 activists had left the city by early morning. The landing site in Portsmouth was described by the city council leader as "unsuitable."