MPs condemn Portsmouth protests after migrants arrive

The group arrived at Eastney after being rescued from a single dinghy which had crossed the English Channel from Normandy.

Around 500 protesters attempted to block routes away from Eastney, with some wearing all-black clothing and face coverings, in scenes similar to the anti-asylum protest in Dover the previous day.

The Government condemned what it described as “intimidating and thuggish behaviour” from protesters.

Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South thanked the “HM Coastguard, RNLI crews, Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and all first responders for your work yesterday.

“The intimidating and thuggish behaviour seen last night has no place in Portsmouth. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.

“I am continuing to work with the Home Office, local services and my fellow MPs, to support communities today."

Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North added: “I echo Stephen’s words. After the deeply worrying scenes around the Solent yesterday, my thanks go to HM Coastguard, the RNLI, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and everyone who worked tirelessly on the scene.

“This happened in Portsmouth South, but the concern is shared across our city. Portsmouth is one city and when something like this happens, we stand together.

“Local people are rightly concerned about what this could mean for new small boat routes across the Channel. But there is no excuse for causing fear amongst Portsmouth’s residents or vandalising emergency service vehicles.

“Under this Government, summer small boat crossings have fallen to a six-year low and we are ending the use of asylum hotels for good. But we’re not complacent.

“We will tackle this head on and I am continuing to engage with the Home Office to ensure everything possible is being done to stop these criminal gangs involved in people smuggling.”

Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, added: “The Government needs to take more action to prevent small boat crossings. Clearly people are not happy with the situation and we respect everyone’s right to protest but it should be done peacefully and within the law.

“We are pleased the coaches were eventually able to leave Portsmouth early this morning to take people outside of Hampshire for processing in the normal way.

“The council wasn’t asked about the decision to land the lifeboats in Portsmouth. This was entirely a decision taken by UK Border Force, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Home Office.

“It was a completely unsuitable location to bring the boats ashore, this entire situation was avoidable and has brought needless disruption to our city.

“I would like to thank the emergency services for their professionalism under very challenging circumstances. However, the Home Office has some serious questions to answer about their lack of planning, inconsistent decision-making and ultimately, poor judgement. They put people at risk. This cannot happen again.”

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage wrote on Facebook: “After the deeply worrying scenes around the Solent yesterday, local people are rightly concerned about whether we are now seeing new small boat routes opening up across different parts of the English Channel.

“The fact that around 80 miles of open water is no longer proving an obstacle to these ruthless people-smuggling gangs is incredibly concerning.

“Today in Parliament, I will be asking Home Office Ministers whether there was any intelligence to suggest this could happen, why local MPs and communities were not made aware, and crucially, after all the government’s rhetoric, what action they are actually taking to stop it.

“People living along our coastline deserve answers and reassurance that everything possible is being done to prevent these criminal gangs exploiting new routes across the Channel.”

Havant MP Alan Mak posted an online update from Hayling Island at 9.40pm on Sunday, saying: “No illegal migrants have arrived on Hayling Island during the day or this evening.

“I do not support the bringing onshore of any illegal arrivals onto Hayling or any other part of the Havant Constituency.

“Anyone who enters the UK illegally should be deported as quickly as possible. Thankfully Hayling has not been affected.”

Fareham and Waterlooville MP Suella Braverman was filmed on a boat in Portsmouth Harbour today for an online video. She said: “I’m absolutely appalled by what’s happening to our area. This is a disgrace.

“It’s unprecedented in terms of the illegal migration crisis. No longer are the illegal migrants simply arriving at Dover in Kent, they are coming to Hampshire. Local people are furious, they are terrified, and rightly so.

“I think this is an absolute disgrace.  These migrants were… well frankly the red carpet was rolled out for them. They were issued with pyjamas and food and all brand new facilities. They were taken to accommodation and all the while people here are furious.”