Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has called for a complete ban on face coverings in public spaces across Britain. The demand follows recent demonstrations where masked protestors, some associated with anti-migrant sentiments, disrupted public areas. Farage described face coverings, ranging from balaclavas to so-called "Antifa masks," as a "menace" used to "bully and intimidate."
Recent events that spurred Farage's call include a demonstration in Dover where hundreds of individuals in black outfits and balaclavas blocked access to the ferry port. Chants of "stop the boats" and "enough is enough" were heard during the protest, which was claimed by the hard-right organization Patriot Platform, reportedly run by Daniel Thomas.
Farage, in a statement on Saturday night, labeled the Dover protest "disgusting" and asserted that "nobody in any political protest, left or right, should be appearing in balaclavas." He further articulated that Reform UK advocates for a ban on all full-face coverings in public, stating, "No ifs, no buts. And yes, that includes religious ones too."
He argued that such a ban is essential for maintaining trust in a free and open society, suggesting that the act of showing one's face is a fundamental part of a social contract that underpins public safety.
This call for a ban comes amid another protest in Portsmouth, where over 500 individuals gathered to prevent asylum seekers from being transported to an immigration center. These migrants had arrived by dinghy from Calais. Protesters, some of whom had entered the sea earlier, remained near the port until late at night, leading to confrontations with police, including riot officers.
According to reports, the Portsmouth protest was also linked to Daniel Thomas and his Patriot Platform group. Government minister Emma Reynolds condemned the Portsmouth protestors as "thuggish and intimidating," while Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's police and crime commissioner, Donna Jones, noted the need for mutual aid from other police forces to manage the crowds. Jones expressed concern that such protests might escalate in frequency and number if similar situations continue.