Going After the ‘Invaders’

A Protest in Portsmouth

Across the country hotels housing asylum seekers have become a flashpoint for the far-right and those angry about immigration. Beyond the media headlines, the dark and dangerous ideology underpinning much of the unrest needs to be taken seriously. James Bloodworth reports

The Royal Beach hotel on Portsmouth’s seafront is a Victorian-era building with (so I’m told) excellent views of the city’s historic port. Built in 1866 in the Edwardian Baroque style, this faded palace has hosted some illustrious guests over the years, including Winston Churchill, General Eisenhower, and the Queen Mother. However, it is the hotel’s latest occupants who are arguably causing the biggest stir.

As of March, 749 asylum seekers had received support in Portsmouth – 96 of whom were placed in hotels, with the remainder in dispersed accommodation, according to government statistics.

On Friday 8 August, there was to be a protest on the Portsmouth seafront against the presence of a portion of that number in the Royal Beach. I first learned about the demonstration from a local Facebook group. “The lions are gathering,” read one comment below the line.