Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has criticized a recent protest at Dover, describing the demonstrations as "intimidatory behaviour" and expressing sympathy for those disrupted. The protest, which lasted approximately four and a half hours on Saturday, saw dozens of individuals blocking a road at the entrance to the port. Police have not yet commented on who was behind the demonstration.
Hope Not Hate, an anti-hate organization, has claimed that the Patriot Platform network organized the event. According to the group, Patriot Platform began meeting in July and has brought together members of anti-migrant groups from across the country. Some demonstrators, when approached by the BBC, offered brief comments such as "send them back" and "stop the boats," while declining to speak further to the media.
Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas both posted on X, formerly Twitter, in support of the protest. Thomas stated that he spoke with women and local people who expressed gratitude for the action taken, and he praised the protesters for their "discipline" and adherence to their plan.
However, Badenoch suggested that figures like Robinson are primarily interested in exploiting their online followers for financial gain rather than addressing genuine national problems. "They want to exploit their online following and take money from the people willing to follow them online, and that's what that agenda is," Badenoch told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She asserted that the government's focus is on solving the issues that significantly impact people's lives.
The leader of the council also commented on the event, stating that the protest was "exceptionally well organised" and caught several agencies unprepared. Police were seen escorting a large group of men, many wearing face coverings, down a dual carriageway in Dover. The protest concluded around 11:30 BST.