MP “hacked off” by government's unanswered questions over small boats landings in Gosport
The government’s reply to the Gosport MP fails to answer the questions she asked
Gosport’s MP has said she is “hacked off” by the government's response over small boats landings in Gosport in which seems to confuse the town with Portsmouth - and provides no answers.
Caroline Dinenage has written to the government repeatedly over the issue after small boats carrying migrants attempting to cross the Channel were directed to the Solent three times within the space of a month.
The first was docked at Eastney in Portsmouth on September 6, a second was thought to be headed for Gosport on September 22 but occupants were transferred at sea to a Border Force vessel at the last minute and taken straight to Dover, and a third was docked at Fort Blockhouse on October 4. In all cases the migrants were taken directly to a processing centre in Kent.
Dame Caroline has been demanding answers, asking why there was no transfer at sea on all occasions and seeking assurance that Gosport would not be used in the same way again.
However she was left infuriated by a letter from Anna Turley, minister for border security and asylum, which failed to address any of the points raised.
The reply explained that the Eastney landing was because “one individual required hospital treatment for hypothermia”, but did not explain the decision to bring migrants ashore at Fort Blockhouse.
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“When a vessel is intercepted in the Channel, those on board must be brought ashore in accordance with established maritime safety obligations,” the letter said.
“The priority is the preservation of life and the safe disembarkment of those on board.
“It is not the government’s intention to establish Portsmouth as a route or designated location for small boat disembarkments and as I communicated with you on September 22 should there be any future arrivals, those on board will be transferred as quickly as possible to the reception and processing facilities in Kent.”
The minister’s letter has also said it will liaise with Portsmouth City Council after it raised the question of the costs incurred as a result of a protest in the city after the first small boat arrival. However the letter does not mention doing the same with Gosport Borough Council or Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones who have also raised concerns.
As previously reported by The News, there was another protest in Gosport yesterday (Sunday, October 25) over the small boats landings.
Dame Caroline has shared the minister’s reply with her constituents on social media and has pledged to continue her call for answers.
She said: “Judge for yourself, but it’s fair to say I’m pretty hacked off.
“The Minister repeatedly appears to conflate Gosport and Portsmouth, seemingly failing to recognise they are different places. The response also refers to reimbursing costs incurred by Portsmouth City Council yet makes no mention of Gosport Borough Council, despite Gosport bearing the impact of the recent small boat arrival and local demonstrations.
“Needless to say, I will be writing back to press for a response to all the unanswered questions from my earlier correspondence. I will be asking for an update on the alternative plans that are being put in place for any future boat crossings and the anticipated arrival of the mid-size border-force vessels which are needed to discharge immigrant boats at sea and convey the passengers directly to Dover (if they can’t be returned to France) so they no longer have to be docked locally.”
It is believed that the recent small boats arrivals are as a result of increased action on the French coast opposite Kent which is pushing smuggling gangs further west along the French coast to attempt a longer and more dangerous crossing.
Between January 1 and October 18, 2026, a total of 20,935 people crossed the Channel in small boats, which is down by 43% compared to the same period in 2025