Gosport MP 'given absolutely no forewarning' from Labour of overnight migrant swarm

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has said Labour ministers gave her “absolutely no forewarning” a boat carrying 149 migrants would land in the town. The Conservative MP was speaking to GB News after protests erupted in the Hampshire town over the overnight arrivals. Migrants were brought ashore at Haslar Marina in Gosport late Sunday evening after crossing the Channel from France, then taken to Kent for processing. Ahead of the arrivals, Ms Dinenage said the Home Office had given her no notice and the Government still had not contacted her to offer assistance or information to her constituents. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “I was given absolutely no forewarning, and in fact, even as we speak, I have still not been contacted by the Home Office or the government in any capacity,” she said. The MP said she was left lacking: “Any information that I can share with my constituents to try and address this really, really unpleasant and difficult situation that we've seen unfolding in Gosport”. Ms Dinenage revealed she had already contacted the Home Office minister around 1pm on Sunday after hearing reports another boat was heading towards the area. “I sent a message to the minister. I've still not received a response,” she said. Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage says she was given 'no forewarning' of migrant arrivals | GB NEWS The MP added she, Gosport council leader Zoe Huggins and Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones had all written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warning Gosport was not a suitable location for migrant arrivals. “I cannot express how furious I am,” Ms Dinenage declared. She said she had also written directly to the Home Secretary more than two weeks ago and had received no response. The latest arrival comes less than a month after another migrant boat was intercepted off the Hampshire coast before its passengers were taken to Dover. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Twelve people arrested after anti-migrant protest engulfs seaside town amid 150-strong small boat arrival Shabana Mahmood lashes out at Labour ministers over 'sheer number' of pleas for MORE migrant visas Two migrant men killed attempting to cross English Channel in small boat Around 150 migrants were transported to the town overnight | PA Demonstrators gathered near Haslar Marina in Gosport amid the arrivals | PA/TREVOR ADAMS Ms Dinenage has previously warned Gosport’s geography and restricted road network make it unsuitable for processing migrant arrivals. Twelve people were arrested and remain in custody following an anti-migrant protest in response to the landings on Sunday evening, Hampshire Police confirmed. Officers were deployed to Haslar Road to respond to attempts to block vehicles transporting migrants out of Hampshire for processing. Some protesters stopped the vans from advancing by standing in front of them, as crowds gathered around the vans chanting “shame on you” and “deport the lot”. The force issued dispersal orders and banned face coverings to quell the demonstrations. Around 350 people gathered in the evening, and police dispersed the crowd by 2am. Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds said: “Violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest. Our position on this has been clear: we will investigate thoroughly and take robust action against anyone responsible. “Last night saw a number of incidents that were clearly not peaceful protest, rather violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter