Anti-immigration protest descends on Dover's seafront as hundreds chant 'Stop the boats!'

A sea of Union Jack and England flags took over Dover’s seafront on Saturday for the “Great British National Protest”. Swathes of demonstrators took over the town in Kent on the first weekend of the summer holidays, holding up placards which read: “Asylum frauds out”, “Not racist, Not far-right, Not being listened to!” and “Stop the boats now!”

The group of patriotic-protesters chose the location where many small boats first touch British soil to express their frustration with the soaring arrivals of illegal Channel-migrants. Numerous flags and banners were waved high into the sky, as chants of “stop the boats” and “Keir Starmer’s a w*****” could be heard.

People gathered in a circle on the beachfront while different speakers took turns to share their personal stories, as well as their grievances with the Labour government.

A number of police vehicles were present at the demonstration, with officers scattered around the town.

A police spokesman told KentOnline: “Kent Police is aware of a planned protest expected in Dover on Saturday, July 19.

“The force is liaising with local partner agencies and those involved in the event have been reminded of their obligations to ensure the protest remains peaceful, lawful and that disruption to the local area is kept to a minimum.

“Officers will be monitoring the situation and sufficient resources will be in place to deliver a proportionate police response.”

The demonstration had been planned for months, which was linked to other “Great British National Protests” held across the country this year.

Ahead of the event, the protest group posted on X: “I have decided that phase 3 is going to be very different. We are on the brink of civil-war. The recent announcements involving the cover ups of the 'Afghan refugees' have only exacerbated things.

“When I started this, I promised to up the anti. I promised to hold the government to account. Countless protests don’t do this. Dover beach will go ahead this Saturday at 12pm.”

The protest also attracted one self-proclaimed far-right protester who has been pictured holding the flag of Patriotic Alternative - a party led by ex-BNP official Mark Collette.

“It’s a unite the right demo but there are a number of issues - we’re all concerned citizens. We all come here together, my platform will be different to the next person but not too different,” Jason Withey said.