Hundreds Gather Outside Southampton’s Highfield Hotel in Anti-illegal Immigration Protest

A crowd of several hundred anti-illegal immigration protestors assembled peacefully outside the Highfield Hotel in Southampton this Friday evening, voicing their frustration over what they see as the government’s failure to control Britain’s borders. The demonstration, which drew participants from across the region, remained calm and well-organised, with protestors carrying signs and chanting slogans but largely avoiding confrontation.

The protest was sparked by reports that the Highfield Hotel is currently being used to house migrants, a move that has stirred controversy locally. Many attendees said they were motivated by concerns over the safety of women and children walking the streets of southampton. “We’re not here to cause trouble,” said one middle-aged protestor, who declined to give his name. “We just want the government to listen to ordinary people who’re worried about women and children in the community. The migrant hotels should not be near schools and family housing”

A smaller group of counter-protestors gathered nearby under the banner of Stand Up To Racism, a campaign group with a history of supporting pro-migrant causes. This particular contingent was largely made up of employees from CLEAR, a Southampton-based charity that assists migrants, both legal and illegal with issues ranging from immigration rights to benefits applications and housing. CLEAR receives government funding to provide its services.

Some onlookers noted the connection between the charity’s staff and the cause they were defending. “It’s not surprising to see CLEAR staff here,” said one local resident, observing the demonstration from across the street. “Their jobs depend on helping migrants navigate the system. Of course they want to keep those services going.”

Police maintained a low profile throughout the event, with officers facilitating dialogue between the groups and ensuring there was no escalation. There were no reports of violence or arrests.

A small group of residents from the adjoining Avondale Court building next to the Highfield Hotel sat and watched the protest. One resident said “We absolutely support the protestors, we watch the migrants dealing drugs in the car park, smoking until the early hours, going in and out on delivery bikes and we dont feel safe anymore. This is an area we always felt safe in before.”

The stand up to racism protestors stood in almost single file to make their numbers look bigger and required a megaphone to make some noise. On the speaker system, the government funded group shouted childish insults at the peaceful protestors such as “Your just a bunch of idiots”, “Far right racists go home” and “you should read a book and get a brain”. The group seems to have a problem making a distinction between legal and illegal migration. They put forward no arguments as to why undocumented illegal men should be housed in the Southampton Community and seemed intent on trying to incite the anti-migrant hotel protesters.

The Highfield Hotel protests come at a time when similar demonstrations have occurred across the country, as local councils struggle to find accommodation for a rising number of asylum seekers and migrants. The government insists it is working to reduce illegal immigration and recently announced new measures to speed up deportations and tighten border controls. But there has been no evidence of any meaningful reduction or intent from Keir Starmer government.