MP 'deeply concerned' as Pakistani cricket team targeted in hotel protest sparked by migrant disinformation
The protest was cut short once it was clear no migrants were at the hotel
An anti-migrant protest outside the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel was cut short when it was revealed that the ‘coach of migrants’ they were protesting against was actually a Pakistani cricket team.
MP Amanda Martin has called for an end to ‘misinformation’ over the issue, with other false information about a second Portsmouth hotel also being shared.
Protestors gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Southampton Road, Cosham, last night (September 8) after it was shared on social media that ‘illegal migrants’ were being housed inside and used drones to circle the hotel while filming. Images have also circulated online that show photographs taken of guests through the hotel’s windows.
But Hampshire County Council Reform UK Group Leader and city councillor, George Madgwick, confirmed in a social media post that the protestors were entirely mistaken. Instead, the group were the national under-19 Pakistan Cricket Team who had travelled to the UK to play a series of matches against the England squad.
Cllr Madgwick said the crowd contained around 40 to 50 people and quickly dispersed once they realised their mistake. “I visited the manager and the hotel explained it was a Pakistani Cricket team staying,” he said.
“The cricket team coach came to speak to me personally and I saw proof. I then went to speak to the crowd gathering of 40/50 people and confirmed with them and assured them that it was a cricket team. Immediately the crowd respectfully accepted that, called for calm and asked the rest of them to leave now. Within five minutes they were gone.”
Similar misinformation spread on social media overnight that migrants were also at Travelodge in Kingston Crescent. Staff repeatedly told commenters that this was untrue.
John Woods, Chair of Portsmouth City Unison, condemned last night’s action and said: "Do we really want to allow racist mobs to gather whenever a coach of non-white people is seen?”
The demonstration followed a protest in Portsmouth on Sunday (September 6) that was sparked by an RNLI boat carrying 120 migrants landing in Eastney. Police are currently investigating seven assaults on police officers in relation to the Eastney protest.
Local MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin, described the incident as “deeply concerning” and called for an end to the spread of ill-informed misinformation.
She said: “It is completely unacceptable that misinformation has led to young cricketers visiting our city being wrongly targeted and mistaken for people seeking asylum. It is incumbent on all public figures in Portsmouth to act on facts, exercise judgment and restraint and not inflame the situation.
“To be clear, those who arrived in Portsmouth on Sunday were transported outside of Hampshire for processing. They are not staying at the Marriott or any other property in Portsmouth.
“There is a legitimate debate to be had about immigration, but it must be based on facts, not misinformation or rumour.”
Responding to the Marriott Hotel demonstration, Michael Bradley, a national organiser from Stand Up To Racism said it showed the potential for more racist attacks.
He said: “The incident at the Portsmouth Marriott shows where the scapegoating of refugees and migrants can lead. When a Pakistan U19’s team is faced by protests because it ‘might’ in fact be a group of migrants it means that effectively any group of black or Asian people coming into the city are being seen by the far right as a potential target - it’s obvious where all this is going to end - racist attacks and more violence.”
Meanwhile, this Saturday (September 12) will be a tense day in the city with the Portsmouth Patriots protesting in the city centre alongside other anti-migrant supporters in an event arranged before the weekend’s events.
The group is expected to be joined by led by Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, who was a leading figure in this weekend’s anti-migrant protests in both Dover and Portsmouth.
Renowned right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, and associate of Danny Tommo, posted on X: “All south coast patriot groups are uniting this Saturday in Portsmouth to march on the city. If you can get there, get there. Strength in numbers.”
In response, Stand Up for Racism and Portsmouth trade unions will be staging a counter-protest to march through the city on the same day.
Michael Bradley said: “When the far right march in Portsmouth on Saturday Stand Up To Racism is calling for people to mobilise against them to show that won’t allow our city and community to be divided.”