‘Intimidatory’ far-right marches should not be allowed, says Angela Rayner

[Communities Secretary Warns Against Far‑Right Marches as Intimidating Acts of Public Disorder]

Far‑right marches organized by the self‑styled leader known as “Danny Tomo” have been characterised by Communities Secretary Angela Rayner as acts of intimidation that ought not to be permitted under relaxed protest standards.

Ms. Rayner highlighted instances where masked demonstrators have obstructed major thoroughfares and transport hubs, describing such conduct as unacceptable protest tactics.

The campaigns have been spearheaded by organizer Daniel Thomas over the past month; he was subsequently charged last week following allegations that he used a knife to slashing an inflatable dinghy in the Channel while a rescuer was aboard.

Ms. Rayner expressed concern that the gatherings frightened local residents. She noted that scenes of hundreds of mostly male participants in dark clothing, covering their faces, shouting down streets were undeniably intimidating, regardless of ideological agreement.

“It is not a legitimate protest,” she emphasized. Referring back to her union experience, she recalled successful demonstrations featuring music and political signage, yet deliberately absent the use of balaclavas and aggressive, divisive speech on public thoroughfares.

“There is certainly a limit. Organizing efforts to disrupt traffic and cordon off sections of public highways constitutes behavior that is both intimidatory and unacceptable,” she concluded.

Recently, organizer Daniel Thomas consolidated dozens of nationalist activist groups under the Patriot Platform banner, galvanising anti‑migrant demonstrators across English coastal towns and harbour sites, notably blocking access to the Port of Dover.

Ms. Rayner cited growing alarm over social‑media amplification of extremist voices, particularly those directed toward the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Following the tragic loss of a ten‑year‑old child and two other women when they attempted to cross the Channel, Ms. Rayner called for greater humanity in the language and treatment of migrants aboard lifeboats.

“At its core, that is where this policy disagreement concludes. Indeed, policymakers discuss immigration policy, asylum allocations, and boat safety measures—and yet cannot condone attacking volunteers whose sole purpose is rescuing lives,” she added.

“These are dedicated volunteers, motivated solely by the safe passage of others—particularly when lifesaving duties carry the risk of fatalities at sea,” she stressed.

“Wiping it up by fostering hateful judgments about the worth of the very lives they rescue—or vilifying volunteers who sacrifice their time to render aid—is completely undesired.”

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