News of Bahrain
World8 September 20262 min read

UK PM Andy Burnham Condemns ‘Politics of Poison’ After Anti-Migrant Protests

By SJ. Email:online@newsofbahrain.com London: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has condemned what he called the 'politics of poison' after anti-migrant protests disrupted parts of southern England over the weekend. Speaking to Labour MPs and peers, Burnham said the party had a responsibil

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 8 September 2026, 8:00 · Updated 13:28

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UK PM Andy Burnham Condemns ‘Politics of Poison’ After Anti-Migrant Protests

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

London: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has condemned what he called the ‘politics of poison’ after anti-migrant protests disrupted parts of southern England over the weekend.

Speaking to Labour MPs and peers, Burnham said the party had a responsibility to prevent fear and hostility from spreading on British streets, urging it to respond with ‘positivity and hope’.

The remarks followed protests in Dover and Portsmouth, where masked demonstrators blocked roads and tried to prevent migrants from being transported after arriving by small boat.

In Portsmouth, protesters clashed with police, with several officers injured and official vehicles damaged. The government described the behaviour as ‘intimidating and thuggish’.

Around 140 migrants arrived by boat in Portsmouth after crossing the Channel from Normandy, an unusual route that has raised concerns about changing patterns in migrant crossings.

The government says small-boat arrivals are down by more than 43% this year compared with 2025, but officials remain concerned about new routes and the activities of people-smuggling gangs.

Pic Credit: AFP

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