In my opinion it would be easy for the government to ban counter protesting on the day of an already planned protest, surely it's easier to police a protest when you don't have to keep two opposing groups separated as well, but I reckon they don't want to as it would affect the overtime of police officers, work for legal teams, solicitors and judges who would make a fortune from arrests at these come togethers, basically all the clique who they keep sweet.
We already have overcrowded prisons with few places, ask yourself why would we want to exacerbate the problem.

I wouldn't trust our government as far as I could throw them, Starmer and his cronies need to go now. They're an absolute disgrace.

There's Deffo a Clique.
Totally agree.

And we will pay for it big style in the Autumn budgets and all the other ones after till Big Nige reumberses our taxes in 29.
UTR.

Agree 100%. Also the government are very conscious of how things look to the world's press. They wouldnt want a huge anti-migrant protest to appear to go unchallenged hence the inevitable, predictable appearance of the usual Socialist Worker types with their pre-printed ready made signage. Starmer and co want to push the idea that for every anti-migrant protestor there is at least one "Refugees are Welcome" type.

I watched a few clips on Gbnews last night and it was the counter protesters who were more interested in causing trouble.

One reporter hit on the head with a placard.
And a few pally flags.
Er it's about women n kids being safe on our streets.

See what happens today.

having protests and counter protests do not bother me one bit. its those who travel across the country to attend are the ones who do. just leave it to local people to do the protesting and the others keep away until there is one in your local area.

In Epping, Essex an asylum seeker was charged with a sexual offence and protests took place outside asylum seeker hotel.
Essex Police crime statistics state that in Epping and Ongar there was 1,311 violence and sexual offences reported in the 12 months to May 2025.
If it's about women and kids being safe how many of those offences led to protests??

So basically you are against counter protests??
Bizarre.

Nasty knuckle draggers turning up at peaceful protests,it's disgusting kev.

My post refers to the Friday night protests around the country mainly Aldershot were the dress code was pink for grandparents n parents wanting to feel safe on their own patch.

And when the counter protesters were asked by the Gbnews reporter why they were there they had no answers.


I can see today being a busy Bunker day.
UTP.

Ano.
And ya can guarantee them lot won't put these Boaties up in there own homes.
Ya afta at the hypocrosy of these people.

If you read my post properly I don't say I'm against them, only at the same time, you can still have a counter protest the next day or even morning and afternoon for that matter. Why create an issue that can be avoided... unless there's an ulterior motive?

It is actually quite sinister. The so called "antifa" counter protestors dress in black and wear masks. If your intention is peaceful protest why would you cover your face? The police have the power to require them to remove their masks but they rarely use it. These people have the pre-printed ready constructed placards which gives a clear signal they are an externally organized and financed entity. The anti migrant protestors have home made cardboard signs and very few are masked up and ready for a fight. I dont claim that the anti migrant protestors are all sweetness and light because as we all know, trouble makers are very keen to infiltrate and start trouble if they can but on the whole they represent the heart beat of the British people far more than masked thugs dressed in black carrying professionally printed signs.

can add the socialist workers party to the list. wonder what percentage of them are actually workers themselves and if they are they have a good un that allows them time off for protesting. then on the opposite side of the coin there is the old far right who will be quick to join a peaceful protest for there own ends who have no interest in sexual offences against women but use them for there own ends.

But they'd be no point in a counter protest.

Yeah just shouting obscenities at each other from opposite sides of the street is really beneficial...

that needs saving till carlisle and york come to town

Exactly

Counter protests defending those accused…yes….ban em.

Whilst I believe in the right to protest, counter or otherwise, I do think a lot of money could be saved by banning some of these protests. Take for example today in Blackpool. This time last year skirmishes took place between those attending the Rebellion Punk festival, and a far right demo taking place the same weekend. The punk festival is a well established, well attended peaceful even on the Blackpool calendar. So fast forward a year, and when do the far right plan to demonstrate outside a migrant hotel in Blackpool? yep! you've guessed it, today. I don't know if there was any trouble, haven't had time to look yet, but knowing that a lot of old punks are generally leftfield, I imagine it was like last year, another flashpoint situation, requiring the deployment of hundreds of coppers, whose time IMO could be better utilised elsewhere. This is where I think these so called counter protests should be banned. They are deliberately planned, to cause trouble and further stir up the hate and division that is slowly killing the UK. We take freedom of speech and the right to protest far too seriously in the UK. Even freedom of speech and the right to protest has to have its limits. Its ridicolous that this can be allowed to happen, when 80 year olds decent people, who have contributed to this country in a positive way, are getting arrested on the grounds of supporting a so called terrorist group, Palestine Action, when in reality all they are concerned about is the mass murder of thousands of innocent people, and many children in Gaza.

Whilst I believe in the right to protest, counter or otherwise, I do think a lot of money could be saved by banning some of these protests. Take for example today in Blackpool. This time last year skirmishes took place between those attending the Rebellion Punk festival, and a far right demo taking place the same weekend. The punk festival is a well established, well attended peaceful even on the Blackpool calendar. So fast forward a year, and when do the far right plan to demonstrate outside a migrant hotel in Blackpool? yep! you've guessed it, today. I don't know if there was any trouble, haven't had time to look yet, but knowing that a lot of old punks are generally leftfield, I imagine it was like last year, another flashpoint situation, requiring the deployment of hundreds of coppers, whose time IMO could be better utilised elsewhere. This is where I think these so called counter protests should be banned. They are deliberately planned, to cause trouble and further stir up the hate and division that is slowly killing the UK. We take freedom of speech and the right to protest far too seriously in the UK. Even freedom of speech and the right to protest has to have its limits. Its ridicolous that this can be allowed to happen, when 80 year olds decent people, who have contributed to this country in a positive way, are getting arrested on the grounds of supporting a so called terrorist group, Palestine Action, when in reality all they are concerned about is the mass murder of thousands of innocent people, and many children in Gaza.

Palestine Action is a terrorist organization and has been proscribed by the government which means you get locked up if you proclaim support for it. The reason Palestine Action has been proscribed is because it is not simply a group that wishes to protest about Gaza but it actually destroys stuff. Two RAF aircraft had paint sprayed into their engines by Palestine Action causing 7 million pounds worth of damage. Think about that. SEVEN MILLION pounds of tax payers money wasted because of the actions of these people. They also attacked a factory which they alleged was making componants for military equipment. They are guilty of politically motivated criminality and should not be tolerated. Of course they love to get pensioners locked up for their cause because the optics look good: if an 80 yr old vicar gets locked it makes your (sinister)cause seem wholesome and all about kindness when the opposite is the case.There is no fool like and old fool.

unless i have missed something you do not hear much about climate protesters these days. is it they have a loan agreement for the pro palestine and pro immegration mobs or just the same ones under a different banner.

Because they’ve all formed a Co-operative, mutual support.

I suspect they are busy supporting Palestine. They'll do anything to wind up normal British citizens.

They’re just the middle class awkward squad, half adult, half rebel with multiple causes and too much spare time, plus a contempt for normal people who they see as sheep, who are need ‘educating’. by them.
Basically intolerable adult toddlers who never lost their ‘demand or a tantrum’ trait that 99% of adults grow out of…..
Political pygmies with first class degrees in gesture politics.

As I recall, several of these numpties were jailed for realistic sentences earlier this year that actually reflected their crimes. Shortly afterwards JSO issued a statement that they were suspending their current activities to concentrate on a different approach to their pathetic campaigning.

They’re deluded, they actually think they’re popular, probably because they only mix within their own circle of like minded headbangers….it doesn’t matter what the facts are to them..it just matters what they think they are.
A flock of sheep without a shepherd……(my apologies to sheep)

A big well done to common sense and the campaign for justice.

Lucy is free today.

Looks like more councils in England plan to challenge hotels being used to house illegals after the Essex hotel ruling..Where's next for them then? that lovely big house at the end of your road that's empty ?

councils will love this. buy up all the cheap housing thats going to wrack and ruin and then charge the government massive ott rents to put them in after a quick cheap refurb that would not be allowed if we did the same privatly.