Swale Borough Council was targeted for organised far-right disruption again last night as a Reform UK-backed motion on a supposed “border emergency” triggered chaos at a full council meeting.
The scenes were an ugly sequel to December’s notorious meeting, when anti-migrant protesters barracked councillors, hurled abuse, and caused around £10,000 worth of damage to Swale House.
Security guards
That earlier protest was directed at a motion proposing that Swale become a “district of sanctuary” for refugees. Although Reform UK later distanced itself from the worst behaviour, some of its councillors were visibly on friendly terms with those responsible.
Ahead of last night’s meeting, the council imposed ticketing to limit the public gallery to 34 people, with police and security guards on hand and a livestream provided for any overspill.
In the event, the turnout of activists was smaller than in December – around ten familiar faces – but despite their numbers, they again succeeded in halting proceedings.
The immediate trigger was a Reform UK motion, moved by councillors Richard Palmer and Kieran Mishchuk, claiming that migration is overwhelming housing and public services in Swale.
The motion had been heavily promoted online by Reform UK members and a wider network of anti-migrant agitators, who reacted furiously when Liberal Democrat councillor Hannah Perkin tabled amendments correcting its factual claims.
As we have reported earlier, these inaccuracies included exaggerated claims about pressure on housing and services, which council officers’ own data does not support.
Sniggering
During the debate, Palmer complained – to applause from the gallery – that Reform councillors were being mocked for holding “a different opinion”. Labour councillor Ashley Wise rejected the motion outright, arguing that border policy is not within the council’s powers.
Lib Dem councillor Ben Martin went further, describing the motion as a “political weapon” designed to inflame tensions. He reminded the chamber that after December’s meeting his own home was attacked with a swastika, a remark met with sniggering from the public gallery.
Mishchuk then launched into an incendiary rant blaming migrants for housing shortages, job insecurity and the supposed transformation of major British cities into “hell on earth”.
The gallery erupted in cheers and clapping, before activist Harry Hilden began shouting directly at councillors. At that point the mayor suspended the meeting and ordered the gallery cleared.
Livestreams posted by activists themselves captured the ugly aftermath: racist abuse directed at security staff and tirades about “demographic replacement” as the group was escorted out into the night.
When councillors reconvened, the motion collapsed. Only Reform UK members voted in favour, with Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and independents rejecting what one councillor memorably called “a pile of hogwash”.
