Police slow to respond to Dover protest, says council boss

Reynolds, speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, condemned the protest.

“Peaceful protest is an essential part of British life but that is not what we saw there with that kind of intimidatory behaviour,” the business secretary said.

“I feel sorry for the people around Dover and the people disrupted by that.”

Police have not yet commented on who was behind the demonstration, which lasted from 07:00 BST to about 11:30.

Anti-hate organisation Hope Not Hate claimed the Patriot Platform network arranged it, saying the group began meeting in July and had brought together members of anti-migrant groups from around the country.

Demonstrators told the BBC they did not want to talk to the media, although one said “send them back” and another said “stop the boats” when approached on Saturday.

Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas both posted about it on X, praising those involved.

Thomas wrote: “The experience on the ground today, was the overwhelming majority of the women and local people we spoke to were thankful that people were actually doing something.”

He praised protesters for showing “discipline” and said they had “stuck to the plan”.

Reynolds said that Robinson and others like him were “not interested in solving genuine problems this country has”.

“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,” he said.

“This government is about solving the problems that really make a difference to people’s lives.”

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