Anti-Migrant and Counter-Protests Clash in Portsmouth Amid Asylum Housing Tensions

In Portsmouth, tensions escalated as anti-migrant protesters clashed with counter-demonstrators supporting refugees, with police forming barriers to keep the groups apart during protests in Guildhall Square. Anti-immigration protesters expressed concerns about asylum seekers being housed locally without the city council's knowledge, focusing particularly on the presence of 'illegal economic migrant men' and calling for alternative solutions such as using disused cruise ships or offshore processing. Counter-demonstrators accused the opposition of Islamophobia, emphasizing the need for more housing for all residents rather than prioritizing asylum seekers over British citizens. The protests featured symbolic displays, including Union and St George's flags with nationalist slogans from anti-migrant groups, and banners promoting diversity and refugee welcome from the opposing side. Local residents voiced frustration over immigration policy, citing issues like housing shortages and personal experiences with crime, while stressing that their concerns were about legal entry rather than race. These events come amid broader national debates, with government officials working to close hotels housing asylum seekers as part of an orderly relocation plan to reduce local tensions.