All at sea: Danny Tommo’s Dover flop

Saturday’s far‑right mobilisation in Dover called by Danny Tommo fell completely flat, as might have been predicted. Tommo himself was absent, barred from the town after his recent arrest there, but his supporters had been urged to assemble for an “emergency protest” to “stop the boats”. In the end, barely twenty people turned up. Theatrical…

Tommo demo Dover 18 April 2026
Danny Tommo’s mate, the fraudster Billy Cooper, organised Dover demonstration

Saturday’s far‑right mobilisation in Dover called by Danny Tommo fell completely flat, as might have been predicted.

Tommo himself was absent, barred from the town after his recent arrest there, but his supporters had been urged to assemble for an “emergency protest” to “stop the boats”.

In the end, barely twenty people turned up.

Theatrical plans

Tommo has recently been promoting increasingly theatrical plans to “take back the Channel”, including the claim that he has purchased a boat, christened The Patriot, to “intercept” migrant vessels off Dover.

Danny Tommo's boat
Danny Tommo’s boat – or what we have been allowed to see of it

His livestream unveiling the craft, however, showed only an outboard motor running in a bucket, and the image of the supposed vessel posted on his social media appears to be AI‑generated.

These stunts have become a recurring feature of his output, all the time featuring increasingly desperate appeals for cash.

Saturday’s demonstration, led in his absence by associate Billy Cooper (a roofer from Carshalton previously exposed for a fraudulent £100,000 insurance claim) quickly descended into frustration.

Blocking lorries

Prevented by police from marching to the Western Jet Foil facility, protesters instead attempted to block Europe‑bound HGVs and coaches heading for the EU’s new biometric checks at the Western Docks.

Tommo demo Dover 18 April 2026
Demonstrators attempt to block traffic at Western Docks

This resulted in traffic disruption and two arrests: a 51‑year‑old local man for throwing eggs at a lorry, and a 57‑year‑old man from Bury St Edmunds over a traffic offence.

Tommo demo Dover 18 April 2026
‘Based and Bougie’ with Shaun Chaney’s decorated Tesla

Among the small crowd was influencer and GB News presenter “Based and Bougie” (Grace Syntyche Djunga), a regular presence at far‑right events who promotes a blend of Christian nationalism and “black conservatism” on social media.

Also present was Ashford activist Shaun Chaney, whose Tesla, covered in far‑right slogans, has become a familiar sight at such protests.

Chaney later blamed the poor turnout on a scheduling clash with the Britain First march in Manchester. Surprising, that…

If Tommo hoped this mobilisation would demonstrate momentum behind his campaign, the reality was the opposite: a tiny, fractious gathering, overshadowed by online theatrics and internal rivalries rather than any meaningful public support.


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

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 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

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

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

Top ten most read