Dover was brought to a standstill Saturday morning by a protest against migration, with masked individuals blocking access to the town's busy ferry port. The demonstration, which featured hundreds of protesters dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, created four-mile tailbacks and caused significant disruption, leaving hundreds of travelers missing their ferry crossings.
The protesters, chanting slogans such as "Stop the boats," appeared to catch law enforcement by surprise. Roads in Dover experienced hours of gridlock throughout the morning. While the protest initially led to concerns it could last for days, the crowd dispersed around midday, escorted by police to a railway station. There were no reports of violence or arrests related to the event.
The group is believed to be associated with Patriot Platform, an organization founded by Danny Thomas, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who had reportedly urged supporters to attend.
Political Reactions
The demonstration drew widespread criticism from across the political spectrum. Robert Jenrick, Treasury spokesman for Reform UK, described the disruption as "completely disgraceful." Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated he deplored the wearing of balaclavas during protests. Mike Tapp, the Labour Member of Parliament for Dover and Deal, expressed frustration with "idiots coming to Dover to cause disruption."
Local Conservative councilor Chris Vinson called the "co-ordinated" demonstration a paralysis of the town, leaving many people stranded. He described the intimidating experience of having vehicle paths blocked by individuals in "paramilitary gear and balaclavas" without prior warning from police.
Videos circulating online showed dozens of protesters obstructing roads and roundabouts near the port, forcing vehicles to stop. Rafael Pittman, a tour guide from London, described the scene as "absolute chaos" during a three-hour wait. Ferry passenger Remco van Schellen reported being unable to leave the ferry terminal upon arrival from the Netherlands.
By late afternoon, the Port of Dover announced that operations had returned to normal, and all routes in and out of the town were reopened. Ferry operators P&O Ferries and DFDS stated they would assist passengers who had missed their sailings by accommodating them on the next available crossings.