Masked anti-migrant activists were condemned by politicians on Saturday after they blockaded Britain’s busiest ferry port in a ‘stop the boats’ protest.

Hundreds of protesters – dressed in black and wearing balaclavas – descended on Dover in Kent, bringing the port to a standstill after catching police off guard.

Roads in the town were gridlocked for hours in the morning, with four-mile tailbacks forming. Hundreds of holidaymakers missed their ferry crossings.

The protesters had earlier been seen marching through the town, chanting ‘Whose streets? Our streets’ and ‘Stop the boats’ as dozens of police officers were called in to follow them.

'There's absolutely nothing to stop this happening on a very regular basis.'

Following the anti-migrant protest that blocked ports in Dover, journalist and broadcaster Linda Duberely says the erosion of public trust in the Government has reached 'frightening' levels. pic.twitter.com/wEpHZuseHM

— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 5, 2026

Read more: Anger as balaclava-clad mob bring Dover to a halt in ‘stop the boats’ protest with four-mile tailbacks leaving town gridlocked as hundreds miss ferries