Hope Not Hate warns of far-right activity in UK migrant protests

Nick Lowles, executive director of the monitoring organization Hope Not Hate, has identified far-right groups as the driving force behind recent anti-migrant protests in southern England. These mobilizations, which have occurred in locations such as Dover and Portsmouth, involve organizations under the Patriot Platform umbrella, including the Kent Patriots and South London Patriots.

Lowles described the tactics of these groups, which sometimes involve individuals in balaclavas marching through streets and blocking traffic, as being outside the bounds of democratic dialogue. While these groups claim to act as a ‘Christian army’ to protect women and children and secure borders, Lowles asserts they are extremist formations creating a climate of fear.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, 16,513 people arrived in the UK via these routes between the start of the year and September 1. Although this figure is lower than previous years, such as the 41,000 arrivals recorded at the end of 2025, the influx continues to serve as a catalyst for organized vigilante activity.