No rain, but far-right Dover ‘National Protest’ is still a washout

NOTE: This article was published on 19 July 2025Although the promised south coast thunderstorms didn’t materialise, the Great British National Protest on Dover beach today turned out to be a totally damp squib. Organiser and ex-squaddie Richard Donaldson had forecast that millions would attend – though he did prudently scale down his expected numbers from…

NOTE: This article was published on 19 July 2025
PA and UKIP flags on display as GBNP demonstrators start the day at the Golden Lion pub in Dover

Although the promised south coast thunderstorms didn’t materialise, the Great British National Protest on Dover beach today turned out to be a totally damp squib.

Organiser and ex-squaddie Richard Donaldson had forecast that millions would attend – though he did prudently scale down his expected numbers from 16 to 9 million. In the event around 250 sorry souls assembled on a windswept beach, railed against migrants and the Labour government for a couple of hours then drifted away.

And, despite Donaldson’s claims that this was all about unity and was ‘non-political’, neo-nazis from Patriotic Alternative were made welcome with their flag – seen on the left in our photo. There was also a UKIP presence, though Nick Tenconi did not make an appearance.

From Manchester James and Claire Hodges from Unite the Kingdom turned up the night before and were seen wandering round with Donaldson. They would probably have been better off staying up north and making up the numbers at their own event, which they abandoned.

Local observers estimated about 50 hard core fascists with the rest of the crowd made up of racist families – many with three generations in attendance. And, despite a promised mobilisation of ‘Bikers for Britain’ no members of the right wing bike club were spotted.

Donaldson is discovering just what a crowded field the far-right grifting scene actually is, and how little room there is for an upstart intruder.


Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

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