Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Does anyone know what's going on in Dover?

674 replies

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 11:09

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt
Hundreds of masked protesters dressed in black disrupting Dover port.

They bear an unfortunate resemblance to the blackshirts

Port of Dover delays: Miles of traffic as protesters block roads

Traffic is being stopped from going in and out of the port because of a demonstration by a large group of masked protesters, with ferry services operating with some delay.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

OP posts:
Thread gallery
29
pointythings · 05/09/2026 11:47

They're trying to stop the boats, not realising that these are the wrong boats. Pretty typical of the Reform/Restore demographic. But we aren't allowed to call them stupid. I hope they're treated in the same way that the XR/Just Stop Oil lot were treated - arrest, sentence, jail.

justrelaxandsleep · 05/09/2026 11:49

pointythings · 05/09/2026 11:47

They're trying to stop the boats, not realising that these are the wrong boats. Pretty typical of the Reform/Restore demographic. But we aren't allowed to call them stupid. I hope they're treated in the same way that the XR/Just Stop Oil lot were treated - arrest, sentence, jail.

This!

RedTagAlan · 05/09/2026 11:49

pointythings · 05/09/2026 11:47

They're trying to stop the boats, not realising that these are the wrong boats. Pretty typical of the Reform/Restore demographic. But we aren't allowed to call them stupid. I hope they're treated in the same way that the XR/Just Stop Oil lot were treated - arrest, sentence, jail.

I thought that too. Wrong boats. What do they have against ferries ?

I suspect it's something to try to deflect from the problems Farage and Reform have just now.

crackofdoom · 05/09/2026 11:50

If I lived in the area I'd be encouraging people to put their brightest coloured clothes on and have a mini festival in the road next to them, with deliberately silly music like the Birdy Song, and dance the conga around the twats.

wheresthesnowgone · 05/09/2026 11:51

Dead cat tactics

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 11:53

I suspect it's something to try to deflect from the problems Farage and Reform have just now.

I hadn't thought of that. I hope it's nothing to do with Reform, otherwise it would mean Nigel and his mate Vladimir are out for control. This sort of targeted disruption is the thing that Russia excels at but it won't endear people to Reform.

OP posts:
YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 11:54

*out of control

OP posts:
AvogadrosNumber · 05/09/2026 11:58

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 11:53

I suspect it's something to try to deflect from the problems Farage and Reform have just now.

I hadn't thought of that. I hope it's nothing to do with Reform, otherwise it would mean Nigel and his mate Vladimir are out for control. This sort of targeted disruption is the thing that Russia excels at but it won't endear people to Reform.

The cultists won't care. There is no bottom to the barrel.

RedTagAlan · 05/09/2026 11:59

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 11:53

I suspect it's something to try to deflect from the problems Farage and Reform have just now.

I hadn't thought of that. I hope it's nothing to do with Reform, otherwise it would mean Nigel and his mate Vladimir are out for control. This sort of targeted disruption is the thing that Russia excels at but it won't endear people to Reform.

I think it's just the sort of thing they would come up with. "Look at the silent majority" sort of thing.

Or maybe Restore ? Trying to remind people they exist ?

Fast800goingforit · 05/09/2026 12:02

They're thugs, cowards who won't show their faces and wear balaclavas to intimidate/look paramilitary. Probably a distraction ordered by Nigel's mates.

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:03

I don't know.

According to the reporting they don't have placards or banners. They're all dressed in black, with balaclavas, were bussed in, and blocked roads.

They haven't advertised that they are making an anti-illegal migration protest, though some politicians have suggested they might be, or claim to have been told that they are.

This looks really odd.

I've never in my life known a real protest where people didn't advertise what they were protesting about – very loudly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

Port of Dover delays: Miles of traffic as protesters block roads

Traffic is being stopped from going in and out of the port because of a demonstration by a large group of masked protesters, with ferry services operating with some delay.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 12:09

I've never in my life known a real protest where people didn't advertise what they were protesting about – very loudly.

I see it as plain intimidation

Also in terms of a potential future prosecution - would the fact that there is no ideology attached to this "act" make it more or less likely for the perpetrators to be jailed? The government came down hard on left-wing protests blocking roads IIRC

OP posts:
AvogadrosNumber · 05/09/2026 12:11

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:03

I don't know.

According to the reporting they don't have placards or banners. They're all dressed in black, with balaclavas, were bussed in, and blocked roads.

They haven't advertised that they are making an anti-illegal migration protest, though some politicians have suggested they might be, or claim to have been told that they are.

This looks really odd.

I've never in my life known a real protest where people didn't advertise what they were protesting about – very loudly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

Plausible deniability?

TheWildZebra · 05/09/2026 12:11

Waste of space blokes probably never worked a day in their life just blame other people for everything.

it’s the new “woke right”.

notimagain · 05/09/2026 12:13

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:03

I don't know.

According to the reporting they don't have placards or banners. They're all dressed in black, with balaclavas, were bussed in, and blocked roads.

They haven't advertised that they are making an anti-illegal migration protest, though some politicians have suggested they might be, or claim to have been told that they are.

This looks really odd.

I've never in my life known a real protest where people didn't advertise what they were protesting about – very loudly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

HI,

Just seen your comment on this in the current Ukraine thread and tend to agree, on the surface this smells and has the appearance of something sponsored or heavily influenced by forces or individuals external to the UK...

LlynTegid · 05/09/2026 12:13

Just ask one of the senior members of Reform to condemn this, and see what response you get.

Yes does remind me of the group supported by the Daily Mail in 1936.

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:14

I could be totally off beam with this, but this is giving me the same vibes as the weird Star of David mass graffiti in Paris a few years ago.

That was an overnight appearance of blue & white striped Stars of David sprayed on random buildings across Paris.

It caused alarm but had no clear meaning – so the public had to come up with their own meanings (pro-Israel, anti-Israel, identifying Jewish people though not on Jewish-occupied buildings...).

A Moldovan couple claimed to have been approached by someone who heard them speaking Russian and asked them to spray the graffiti for money. French intelligence services suspect it was a Russian dezinformatsiya operation to cause disruption for the sake of disruption.

Star of David graffiti in Paris - the Russian connection
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67360768
Quoting sources in the investigation, Le Monde said the cut-price modus operandi - using poorly-paid proxy freelancers - was typical of today's Russian intelligence, which was hit hard by the expulsion of spies from Western capitals after the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
As for the purpose of Operation Star of David, like all dezinformatsiya it seems to have been to sow confusion and anxiety. The fact that the symbol could be either pro- or anti-Israeli made it all the more interesting: that way both sides would be suspicious.

A woman walks past a building tagged with Stars of David in Paris

Star of David graffiti in Paris - the Russian connection

Around 250 blue Stars of David - similar to the one on the Israeli flag - appeared on Paris buildings.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67360768

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 12:15

notimagain · 05/09/2026 12:13

HI,

Just seen your comment on this in the current Ukraine thread and tend to agree, on the surface this smells and has the appearance of something sponsored or heavily influenced by forces or individuals external to the UK...

That would make the protesters traitors to their country

OP posts:
ABlackVelvetBand · 05/09/2026 12:15

They object to women having head / face coverings and yet…

DuncinToffee · 05/09/2026 12:16

Thugs from a newly formed far right group called Patriot Platform

https://bsky.app/profile/lizziedearden.bsky.social/post/3murdhe5cis2f

They have managed to stop cars, busses, lorries and the local Park Run. Ferries are still sailing.

RedTagAlan · 05/09/2026 12:18

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:03

I don't know.

According to the reporting they don't have placards or banners. They're all dressed in black, with balaclavas, were bussed in, and blocked roads.

They haven't advertised that they are making an anti-illegal migration protest, though some politicians have suggested they might be, or claim to have been told that they are.

This looks really odd.

I've never in my life known a real protest where people didn't advertise what they were protesting about – very loudly.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cmwyzxlzxpzgt

Thinking on a bit, maybe they heard Tommy Ten names was on his way from Spain. I recall he uses the tunnel/ferries because he drives back and forth in a Bentley. Or some other super high end car.

"Nice motor innit "

PerkingFaintly · 05/09/2026 12:18

notimagain · 05/09/2026 12:13

HI,

Just seen your comment on this in the current Ukraine thread and tend to agree, on the surface this smells and has the appearance of something sponsored or heavily influenced by forces or individuals external to the UK...

Indeed.

(I've now repeated most of my Ukraine-thread comment on this thread, for anyone wondering.)

RedTagAlan · 05/09/2026 12:21

YourWatermelonship · 05/09/2026 12:15

That would make the protesters traitors to their country

Farage it is then.

dapsnotplimsolls · 05/09/2026 12:22

I wonder how many of them have convictions for domestic abuse.

Chrysanthemumsinpots · 05/09/2026 12:25

Dressed in black and acting aggressively? That sounds just like the far left ‘anti facist’ groups.