'Must set clear precedent', 'Power to the people': Politicians call to block migrant boat visits to Gosport
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The boat containing around 50 migrants were diverted to Dover after reports it was landing at Gosport Marina
Politicians have called on the Government to not land migrant boats in Gosport following last night’s diversion.
A vessel carrying 51 migrants was heading towards Hampshire after refusing help from the French Coastguard. Its landing in Gosport was aborted and it arrived in Dover at 12.30am last night after being at sea for 33 hours.
The occupants are currently in the hands of Border Force and will be processed. Amid rumours of a migrant boat landing yesterday morning, Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage issued a statement which said the Home Office informed her of an imminent operation.
In a follow up statement, she described Border Force intercepting the dinghy and taking it to Dover as a “good result”. She said herself, Gosport Borough Council leader Zoe Huggins, and police and crime commissioner Donna Jones, were united in their message that Gosport and Portsmouth were not suitable locations to accommodate small boats.
“It was therefore incredibly disappointing to discover through whispers and rumours that the Government was once again considering bringing a boat into Portsmouth Harbour,” she added. “The Home Secretary has still not replied to my letter.
“I am pleased that Border Force are now taking today’s boat to Dover by water, as we asked. This must now set a clear precedent. If further boats are intercepted in our part of the Channel, they should be taken straight to Dover by water rather than causing unnecessary disruption to communities around Portsmouth Harbour. Ministers have now shown that this can be done. They need to make sure it happens from the outset in future.”
Councillor George Madgwick, Leader of the Reform UK Group on Hampshire County Council, described the response from the public as “power to the people”. He added in a social media statement: “There were so many people in attendance at Gosport and so much publicity that the Home Office have aborted the docking at Gosport of the illegal migrant boats.
“If that doesn’t prove what people power can truly do, when people come out in numbers, I don’t know what does. I’m so so impressed with the local community.”
Gosport Reform UK leader Paul Carter said the whole operation was “an absolute waste of resources”. “That is unacceptable,” he added. “I wanted to say a massive thank you to local residents for coming down to see what went on.
“Illegal migrants coming to Gosport should never be on the cards. This is the home of the Royal Navy. We’re completely committed to making sure our town and coastline is protected, and this beautiful town receives no illegal migrants by any force.”
A large crowd of protestors gathered in Gosport after news of a potential migrant boat landing spread. Three coaches were already seen in the vicinity of Fort Blockhouse ahead of the imminent operation. A heavy police presence followed, which contained emergency personnel from the Metropolitan Police and other forces as well as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Around 200 protestors gathered in total. They began to disperse at around 8.30pm once news spread that the boat was diverted to Dover. Six people were arrested by police.
They include two men from Salisbury, a 19-year-old and a 36-year-old, were detained on suspicion of aggravated trespass, while a 67-year-old man, from Gosport, was arrested on suspicion of careless driving and assault emergency worker.
On top of this a 32-year-old woman, a 31-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man, all from Gosport, were arrested on suspicion of assault emergency worker. They all remain in custody.
Demonstrators included men in black shirts, several wearing face coverings, who were chanting “send them back”. This echoed the anti-migrant protest earlier this month at Eastney Point which turned violent. Anti-racism groups have condemned both demonstrations.
No small boat arrivals to the UK coast without an escort have been officially recorded since September 6 last year. Some 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,011 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
The total so far for 2026 is down 46 per cent on the same point last year.