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Dover port blocked
Hundreds of masked anti-immigration protesters blocked roads leading to Britain’s busiest ferry port in Dover on Saturday, clogging traffic and disrupting travelers and cargo vehicles heading for France.
“all traffic in and out was “stopped due to an ongoing public order incident,””
The Port of Dover said Saturday morning that all traffic in and out was "stopped due to an ongoing public order incident," and police said they were "engaging with the protesters."
Video posted on social media showed demonstrators linking arms across a major road near the port and shouting "stop the boats," while a group later marched through the town chanting "whose streets? our streets!"
Kent Police said no arrests had been made as of midday, and the Port of Dover later said access roads were "free flowing" as protesters dispersed by lunchtime.
Voices clash over intent
Dover District Councillor Chris Vinson said the demonstration "brought the town to a standstill" and left "stacks of people" stuck in their cars or workplaces, while the Labour MP Mike Tapp said he was "fed up with idiots coming to Dover to cause disruption."
Nigel Farage called the protest "wrong at every level," telling broadcasters at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham: "You should not be allowed to be masked up, balaclaved up, and go out and protest on the streets of our country."
The government spokesperson said: "The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but we condemn the behaviour in Dover and the travel disruption it has caused," and the Port of Dover said the disruption was affecting "all routes" in and out of the port and the town.
Hope Not Hate linked the action to the Patriot Platform and wrote: "Today, we could see Patriot Platform for what it is: a network of men happy to intimidate and inconvenience an entire town for what was effectively a publicity stunt."
Aftermath and what’s at risk
National Highways said the protest blocked all routes to the port and caused a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) traffic jam, and the Port of Dover said one road to the port had reopened by late morning as P&O Ferries said access was restored just before midday.
“caused a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) traffic jam”
P&O Ferries said passengers who missed their ferry would be offered the next available crossing, while the government spokesperson advised travelers "to allow for extra travel time" and to follow guidance from providers.
Kent Police confirmed no arrests were made and said protesters had dispersed by midday, but KentOnline reported that demonstrators were later seen at Dover Priory station after police moved them on late morning.
The dispute over consequences also extended to local politics, with Kevin Mills telling KentOnline that the demonstration was "unacceptable" and saying "not one of them supports it" among residents who spoke to him.