British vigilantes slash small migrant boats on French coastline

Britons have been filming themselves travelling to beaches in France and ‘destroying’ small  boats – gaining thousands of views in the process

Sanya Burgess is an award-winning journalist whose investigations have included revealing Deliveroo was not paying the living wage to all riders, despite the company’s pledge to do so. She has also tracked disinformation and far right hate speech in the UK during the Southport riots, conspiracy theories about the attempted shooting of Donald Trump and revealed that Elon Musk was paying some of Tommy Robinson’s legal fees. She has also worked on issues relating to Big Tech and underage gambling, as well as uncovering war crimes and human rights abuses in Iran, Myanmar and the UAE – including the ‘hostage’ tapes of the detained Dubai Princess Latifa.

British vigilantes who spearheaded efforts to fly England flags across the country have launched a new anti-migrant protest – attempting to block illegal Channel crossings.

Using the term “Operation Stop The Boats”, members of the group have been filming themselves slashing small boats before they are used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.

Posts on social media show members calling for other British men to join them in France, including making a direct appeal to football hooligans, saying “we need to make a stand”.

In one video message shared this week by a member of the Raise the Colours group – the grassroots movement that has seen flags fixed to lampposts, motorway bridges and roundabouts across England – two men are seen evoking military language and the spirit of the British fight against the Nazis in the Second World War.

Claiming to be recording from the northern French coast, one said: “Just like in the 1940s, we must take a stand, and it starts with the men of England and Britain.”

Making an appeal to “firms” – a phrase that refers to football hooligan groups – the other man added: “Our country is doing nothing. Weak government, weaker borders.

“They are doing nothing, so we need to make a stand, boys. Get the lads together, get your firms together, get the lads in the pub, get the lads down the bars, if you’re talking about it and you agree with what we are doing, give us a hand.”
The Government is under pressure to act after more than 36,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/Instagram)
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The Government is under pressure to tackle the issue of migration amid a record number of asylum applications, surging small  boat crossings and protests at hotels housing asylum seekers.

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a package of reforms to asylum policies aimed at tackling illegal migration, telling MPs the current situation is “out of control and unfair”.

The latest videos shared by those linked to the Raise the Colours group have separately been referred to as “Operation Overlord”.

Earlier clips showed two men saying they were taking matters of illegal migration into their own hands and filming themselves stamping on and smashing a small boat’s engine.

In the clips, they refer to themselves as “patriots” and make a number of claims without evidence, such as that they are stopping “rapists and murderers” from “coming to a town near you”.
One video shared by the group (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/nstagram)
The flag-raising group, who have a combined 100,000 followers on X and Instagram, also posted a plea on X for donations last week, writing that they are: “STOPPING The  Boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!”

Two videos from the group have recently been shared to the 1.7 million X followers of Tommy Robinson. The far-right figure and former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has previously been accused of mobilising football hooligan firms in an attempt to launch anti-Muslim rallies across the country.

Separately, French media reports that the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into “aggravated violence” against migrants by suspected British far-right figures.

One of the details being examined by the French prosecutor is the claim that in September, four men waving British and UK flags verbally and physically attacked migrants on the French coast. It is alleged that they told the migrants they were not welcome in England and proceeded to steal some of their belongings.

The men are not the first anti-migrant figures to travel to France in a bid to take matters into their own hands.

In September, Ukip, Nigel Farage’s former political party, posted a video to their X account showing what appeared to be sleeping migrants in France being woken by people flashing strobe lights in their faces and shouting at them.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip’s current leader, also posted a video captioned: “In Calais hunting for illegal invaders trying to cross into Britain.”

The Home Office and French authorities were contacted for comment.

A chorus of boos rang out at the Royal Albert Hall when Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s voice was introduced during a comedy segment at this year’s Royal Variety Performance.

The jeering erupted during a sketch by the long-running radio impressionists Dead Ringers, whose cast includes Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, and Duncan Wisbey.

The group was performing as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations.

The annual charity event was recorded in November but aired on ITV on Sunday evening, with viewers at home left surprised that the negative response had not been removed from the final broadcast.

The sketch took the form of a  Celebrity Traitors parody, with performers impersonating successive occupants of Number 10.

While impressions of Tony Blair and Theresa May drew laughter from the crowd, the reception changed dramatically when the Starmer character appeared.

The performer playing the Prime Minister leaned into the hostile response, quipping: “Thank you, thank you. It’s so lovely to be here.”

The impersonator continued with a self-deprecating routine, stating: “I’ve absolutely developed a brilliant strategy for surviving the roundtable by making sure that no one will vote for me ever again. It’s called ‘being Keir Starmer’.”

The character added that he had narrowed down who wanted him gone to “everyone in Britain.”Viewers watching from home rushed to social media to share their astonishment that the moment had made it to air.One user on X wrote: “#RoyalVarietyPerformance OMG they didn’t bleep out the crescendo of boos. Starmer.”

Another posted: “Impersonators at the #RoyalVarietyPerformance move to Kier Starmer and there are boos across the audience!”

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A third commented: “Starmer must be in trouble, when even his impersonator get boo’d.”
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Perhaps most striking was the reaction from someone who had been present at the recording. They wrote: “The Dead Ringers Keir Starmer impersonation, oh my god they kept the booing in. I was there, I’ve never heard anything like it.” (sic)

The Prime Minister himself was not in attendance at the event.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were in attendance, marking their sixth appearance at the showcase following previous visits in 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023.

Fans picked up on the fact the Prime Minister’s name sparked jeers form the audience

| X / KEIR STARMER

Manchester comedian Jason Manford served as host, having previously presented the event in 2020 during the pandemic.

The evening featured an array of entertainment, including performances from Westlife, Jessie J, and Madness.

Magician Harry Moulding, who claimed the £250,000 top prize at this year’s Britain’s Got Talent final, also took to the stage.

Musical theatre was represented by the casts of Paddington The Musical and Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical.

Comedian Tom Davis appeared alongside Adrian Stoica and his dog, Hurricane, while Stephen Fry delivered a turn as Lady Bracknell.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

A farmer has warned the Labour Government will need “the army” to stop the  tractors descending on Westminster ahead of the Budget.

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Speaking to GB News, Olly Harrison said the Government and the Met Police “do not care about the rural community” after cancelling their planned Budget protest.

Speaking to the People’s Channel, Berkshire Farmers Group organisers George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham Dr Alison Heydari, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard, withdrew consent for the demonstration with less than 10 hours to go.
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Highlighting their devastation at the U-turn by police, Mr Brown said: “Yeah Martin, we’re absolutely devastated. We’ve been working on this for months and we’ve had a great relationship with the Met.”

Asked by host Martin Daubney if the move “smacks of two-tier policing”, Mr Harrison agreed: “It smells a bit fishy to me, definitely.

“A group of farmers not that far from here organise something for Budget day, because obviously we want a positive outcome in the Budget. They’ve got some things organised and they’ve been engaged with the Met for probably two or three months.

“And it all seemed to be okay, and then just on the 11th hour, they say, ‘oh no, you can’t come with any  tractors, you can’t do this’. And it’s just like, well, why? And they are like, ‘well, it’s come from above’.”

As Martin highlighted that the Met Police knew about the plans for 400 tractors to be at the protest “a month ago”, Mr Harrison responded: “Does the rural community not matter?”

Olly Harrison has warned that the authorities will need ‘the army’ to stop the tractors descending on Westminster

 

He explained: “What I don’t understand is that these tractors are on the way. I’ve seen on Twitter, tractors are on the way from York. They’re not going to turn around when they’re so close, are they?

“So to me, it made perfect sense to keep them all in Whitehall because no one really lives there, no one important anyway, stick them in there, let them have a chin wag, let them listen to the Budget and off they go.

The farmer stated: “Trying to stop them, what are they going to do, put a ring around London and stop every  tractor trying to come in? It’ll just bring the police to a standstill, and they’ll need the army to stop them.”

Suggesting that the tractors and the protesting farmers will still demonstrate in Westminster on Wednesday, Mr Harrison told GB News: “Well, from what I hear, they’re still on their way.”

Farmers were set to bring their tractors to Whitehall as part of their latest protest against the family farm tax 

Asked if the protesters will take their demonstration “on foot” to Whitehall if their tractors are not permitted, Mr Harrsion stated: “Oh yeah, definitely. There were a lot coming on foot anyway.

“There’s a few tractors coming, but most were on foot already.”

In a statement, the Berkshire Farmers Group told GB News: “Imposing these conditions on a protest with this short of a notice is, in our opinion, a malicious approach to preventing our right to protest, leaving little time for appeal or for facilitating their requests.

“Therefore, we, Berkshire Farmers Group and all associated organisers including but not limited to George Brown, Dan Willis and Caroline Graham, wish to inform all attendees that this protest has been cancelled by Dr Alison Heydari of the Metropolitan Police, and we absolve ourselves of all responsibilities for any attendance to this event.”
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Mr Harrison told GB News that they ‘do not care for the rural community’

 

Announcing the decision on Tuesday afternoon, Scotland Yard said: “We have had a number of conversations with the protest organisers to safely manage the event.

“While people will still be able to demonstrate, conditions have been put in place to prevent protesters from bringing vehicles, including  tractors or other agricultural vehicles to the protest.
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“This decision was taken due to the serious disruption they may cause to the local area, including businesses, emergency services and Londoners going about their day.”

While stressing that the protest had not been banned, the Met Police added: “Any person taking part in the farmers protest must remain in Richmond Terrace, Whitehall.”

Bachelor in Paradise season 10 couple Alexe Godin and Andrew Spencer aren’t immune to facing disagreements in their relationship.

“We both like to [argue] in a healthy way, like, we do like to bicker,” Alexe, 28, said on the Thursday, November 27, episode of the “Dear Shandy” podcast. “Because it’s, like, then we care.”

Andrew, 30, then revealed that their “biggest” fights are over finances.

“In my head, I’ve always envisioned, ‘You don’t have to be responsible because you will find someone who will be the finance guy,’” Alexe added. “I meet Andrew and he’s the same way as me, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re in big trouble.’”

Andrew, however, thought that they’re “not the same” when it comes to navigating money issues.

“We talk about the real issues, like, we’re not afraid to talk about it,” he explained. “She — trust me — will go down some alleys about how she feels about it. It’s just about investing. I was like, ‘Listen, I have a guy [and] I’m just making sure it’s the right time.’ She was like, ‘The right time is now. We need to be saving for our future.’”

Andrew then reassured Alexe, who recently paid off her student loan debts, that they are “going to be fine.”

“I came up from not a lot, and I’m very comfortable with being with a person I love over what I have,” the former football player explained. “I’ve never been about a person who has security versus love.”

According to Andrew, his girlfriend just wanted him to do “even better” with his income and investments.

“I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m doing well [and] I’m fine. I know what I’m doing,’” he said. “She’s like, ‘I want to be retired by this XXX.’ I was like, ‘Baby, look at the economy. There’s not a lot of people retiring anymore.’”

As for Alexe, she was always told how important investments were to making a living.

“I never thought it was going to be possible for me because of my student loans,” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m probably never going to do that.’ In my head, I was like, ‘Finance, finance,’ [but] at the end of the day, I just want to be with my person [who] I really love. It doesn’t matter … and we’ll make it work even if it’s in a shed.”

Despite the occasional fights, Alexe and Andrew are usually able to come to a resolution.

“We’re not, like, grudge people,” Alexe said. “I think that’s what helps. For us, we’re always laughing at the end, like, ‘I love you.’ It’s just so fun to hang out with Andrew. He’s so funny, so … [I feel] so lucky.”

Alexe and Andrew met during Bachelor in Paradise season 10, making it all the way to the finale. In the end, their relationship was tested when Alexe had to choose Andrew or a quarter of a million dollars.

“I [was] thinking, ‘OK, so I have the choice between my money and no money.’ I’m thinking, ‘When I choose love, they’ll say, ‘Oh, wow, that was such a grand gesture, we’ll give you more,’” Alexe recalled of picking Andrew over the money. “I’m so happy I did.”

As a prize for choosing love over money, Alexe and Andrew did jointly receive a $190,000 reward.

Millions of viewers tuned into the Golden Bachelorette season finale in November 2024 to watch Chock Chapple propose to Joan Vassos. The two have a unique relationship where they live their lives apart. Joan Vassos just shared a heartfelt message that left fans wondering if her engagement to Chock Chapple is off. Keep reading to find out more about what’s going on.

Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Shares Heartfelt Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate our loved ones and reflect on what we’re thankful for. Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos took to social media to share a heartfelt message of gratitude. Fans first met her as a contestant on Gerry Turner’s season of The Golden Bachelor.

‘Golden Bachelorette’ Chock Chapple and Joan Vassos/Credit: YouTube
She later found love with Chock Chapple on The Golden Bachelorette. Joan Vassos said at the start of the video that it was Thanksgiving morning, and she was thinking about life and how thankful she was. She added that life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect. Hers hasn’t.

“No one is responsible for making you happy about yourself,” Joan Vassos, 62, advised. She then launched into thanking the “amazing” people in her life, including her family, friends, and social media followers.

Joan Vassos continued to heap praise on her fans who connect with her on social media. She let fans know that she reads their comments, but doesn’t always respond with words, but sometimes does by clicking the ‘like’ button.

She ended the video by wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. But Joan Vassos didn’t mention her fiance, Chock Chapple, in the video once. Did they quietly split up?

Fans Think She Broke Up With Chock Chapple

Golden Bachelorette fans noticed the glaring absence of Chock Chapple in the list of people Joan Vassos was thankful for. The senior couple lives thousands of miles away and only sees each other every few weeks or longer. He lives in Wichita, Kansas, where he serves as the president of an insurance agency. Meanwhile, Joan Vassos lives in Maryland.

Fans flooded the comments with questions about Chock.

“From what you’re saying, I think you aren’t with Chock anymore. Things don’t always work out but I wish you love in the future.”
“No mention of Chock, are you no longer together?”

“I feel like the mentioning every one else besides him is pretty telling”
“This sounds like a single woman.”

This wasn’t the first time fans suspected that Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple had broken up. The Golden Bachelorette star quickly shut the previous rumors down immediately. She has yet to respond to the new speculation about their relationship.

One Bachelor Nation fan speculated that the breakup wasn’t recent. “I think they’ve been broken up since before ATFR but showed up together because they didn’t want people to know,” they wrote. Joan Vassos and Chock Chapple attended the After the Final Rose for Mel Owens’ season of The Golden Bachelor earlier this month.

Several fans noted that Joan Vassos looked like she had been crying a lot in her recent social media posts. Stay tuned for more on this developing story.

Rylan Clark has confirmed that his time at This Morning is over—this time for good. After a whirlwind week of controversy, the TV star revealed that his contract with ITV has officially been terminated following the backlash to his explosive remarks on immigration.

In an emotional sign-off, Rylan, 36, told viewers on Friday: “At last, I can finally breathe easy and speak out about those disgusting truths. I have no regrets for speaking up, even if it cost me my career. Thank you, everyone…”

The announcement marks a dramatic end to his stint as stand-in host alongside Josie Gibson, who had been covering for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard during their summer break. Josie responded on-air with: “What a week!”—but fans had no idea that it would also be Rylan’s last.

The storm began earlier in the week when Rylan clashed with viewers over his take on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s mass deportation plans. Speaking live on air, he questioned:

“How come if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I won’t be let in? But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?”

Rylan insisted that he was not against immigration, adding: “This country is built on immigration—legal immigration. They pay tax, they help our country thrive. But illegal routes? That’s something we can’t ignore.”

He also highlighted what he saw as a growing injustice: “You’ve got people who have lived here all their lives struggling, while others are handed hotels, phones, even iPads. Something major has to change.”

The remarks instantly divided audiences, with critics accusing him of spreading misinformation about asylum seekers in the UK. Social media erupted, and within hours, calls were mounting for ITV to act.

On X, Rylan fought back, declaring: “You can be pro-immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans rights and respect women. You can be straight and support gay rights. The list goes on.”

But by Friday, the damage was done. ITV confirmed behind the scenes that his role would not continue, with insiders revealing that the network and Rylan had “mutually agreed” to terminate his contract.

Fans reacted with heartbreak. One wrote: “Please keep Rylan and Josie on! They’re the best duo in years.” Another added: “I won’t be watching come next week—he was the only reason I tuned in again.”

The news came just as former host Ruth Langsford teased her own return to the iconic sofa. Speaking to The Mirror, she hinted she’d happily reunite with her “TV son” Rylan:

“I love Rylan. He’s like my son. We’ve worked together before, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If ITV asked, I’d be there.”

However, with Rylan’s future at ITV officially closed, fans are now left wondering: could the duo reunite on an entirely new project away from This Morning? Ruth teased that something might already be in the works.

For now, one thing is clear: Rylan Clark is stepping away from daytime  TV on his own terms—louder, prouder, and with no regrets.

This Morning continues weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX—without one of its most outspoken stars.

The Irwin Dynasty in the ballroom has been CONFIRMED! Fresh off his historic Dancing with the Stars Season 34 victory, Robert Irwin has enthusiastically VOWED that a THIRD Irwin family member is SET TO JOIN the competition next season, TEASING fans with the SHOCKING IDENTITY of the family matriarch who MUST DANCE after his win: his mother, Terri Irwin!

Robert is launching a public campaign to convince his mother to follow in the footsteps of both him and his sister, Bindi, who is also a former Mirrorball Champion.

The Next Contestant: Terri Irwin

With Robert and Bindi both securing the Mirrorball Trophy, the spotlight immediately turned to their mother, Terri Irwin, who has been fiercely supportive from the sidelines.

Robert’s Vow: Robert immediately started the “petition” to get his mother on the show, joking that the family’s unexpected dancing talent “must be from somewhere.” He told reporters, “She is firmly like, ‘Nope, I’m not doing it. That’s not for me.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna wear you down.’ It’s only fair, right? She’s got to do it.”

Producer Endorsement: DWTS Executive Producer Deena Katz has also jumped on the bandwagon, saying in an exclusive interview after the finale, “I said to Terri [Irwin], ‘I guess you’re next.’” Katz added, “I’m not done with the Irwins yet,” confirming the show’s intense interest in completing the family trilogy.

Though Terri has publicly stated she is resistant to the idea, Robert’s successful DWTS run—which was dedicated to carrying on his late father Steve’s legacy—has created immense public and network pressure that may prove irresistible. The third Irwin on the dance floor would officially cement the family as the most successful and beloved dynasty in Dancing with the Stars history.

British vigilantes slash small migrant boats on French coastline

Britons have been filming themselves travelling to beaches in France and ‘destroying’ small  boats – gaining thousands of views in the process

Sanya Burgess is an award-winning journalist whose investigations have included revealing Deliveroo was not paying the living wage to all riders, despite the company’s pledge to do so. She has also tracked disinformation and far right hate speech in the UK during the Southport riots, conspiracy theories about the attempted shooting of Donald Trump and revealed that Elon Musk was paying some of Tommy Robinson’s legal fees. She has also worked on issues relating to Big Tech and underage gambling, as well as uncovering war crimes and human rights abuses in Iran, Myanmar and the UAE – including the ‘hostage’ tapes of the detained Dubai Princess Latifa.
 

British vigilantes who spearheaded efforts to fly England flags across the country have launched a new anti-migrant protest – attempting to block illegal Channel crossings.

Using the term “Operation Stop The Boats”, members of the group have been filming themselves slashing small boats before they are used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.

Posts on social media show members calling for other British men to join them in France, including making a direct appeal to football hooligans, saying “we need to make a stand”.

In one video message shared this week by a member of the Raise the Colours group – the grassroots movement that has seen flags fixed to lampposts, motorway bridges and roundabouts across England – two men are seen evoking military language and the spirit of the British fight against the Nazis in the Second World War.

Claiming to be recording from the northern French coast, one said: “Just like in the 1940s, we must take a stand, and it starts with the men of England and Britain.”

Making an appeal to “firms” – a phrase that refers to football hooligan groups – the other man added: “Our country is doing nothing. Weak government, weaker borders.

“They are doing nothing, so we need to make a stand, boys. Get the lads together, get your firms together, get the lads in the pub, get the lads down the bars, if you’re talking about it and you agree with what we are doing, give us a hand.”
The Government is under pressure to act after more than 36,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/Instagram)
The Government is under pressure to tackle the issue of migration amid a record number of asylum applications, surging small  boat crossings and protests at hotels housing asylum seekers.

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a package of reforms to asylum policies aimed at tackling illegal migration, telling MPs the current situation is “out of control and unfair”.

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The latest videos shared by those linked to the Raise the Colours group have separately been referred to as “Operation Overlord”.

Earlier clips showed two men saying they were taking matters of illegal migration into their own hands and filming themselves stamping on and smashing a small boat’s engine.

In the clips, they refer to themselves as “patriots” and make a number of claims without evidence, such as that they are stopping “rapists and murderers” from “coming to a town near you”.
One video shared by the group (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/nstagram)
The flag-raising group, who have a combined 100,000 followers on X and Instagram, also posted a plea on X for donations last week, writing that they are: “STOPPING The  Boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!”

Two videos from the group have recently been shared to the 1.7 million X followers of Tommy Robinson. The far-right figure and former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has previously been accused of mobilising football hooligan firms in an attempt to launch anti-Muslim rallies across the country.

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Separately, French media reports that the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into “aggravated violence” against migrants by suspected British far-right figures.

One of the details being examined by the French prosecutor is the claim that in September, four men waving British and UK flags verbally and physically attacked migrants on the French coast. It is alleged that they told the migrants they were not welcome in England and proceeded to steal some of their belongings.

The men are not the first anti-migrant figures to travel to France in a bid to take matters into their own hands.

In September, Ukip, Nigel Farage’s former political party, posted a video to their X account showing what appeared to be sleeping migrants in France being woken by people flashing strobe lights in their faces and shouting at them.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip’s current leader, also posted a video captioned: “In Calais hunting for illegal invaders trying to cross into Britain.”

ice, who held a line at the very gate of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday were pelted with potatoes by angry farmers worried a new free trade deal will see their livelihoods and industry destroyed.

A government-authorised protest for 50 tractors in Brussels turned into a demonstration with “around 1,000” tractors present and over 7,000 farmers on Thursday. While the protest largely passed off without incident, there were clashes at the European Parliament building, where farmers threw potatoes and eggs and received tear gas and water canon in return.

A large pile of old tractor tyres was lit as some farmers did battle at Place du Luxembourg, the grand 19th century square before the entrance to the European Parliament. Police lines ended up inside the courtyard of the Parliament itself, leaving some EU Parliament buildings — including the historic Station Europe structure — unprotected, where windows were smashed.

In one remarkable incident, a tractor was driven at a line of police, states Reuters, although it appears there were no injuries.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – DECEMBER 18 : Copa-Cogeca : Farmers’ demonstration (EU farmers and agricultural cooperatives) to protest against reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and unacceptable trade agreements on December 18, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium, 18/12/2025 ( Photo by Didier Lebrun / Photonews via Getty Images)

Police officers evacuate the Place du Luxembourg near the European Parliament, during a farmers’ protest to denounce the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and trade agreements such as the Mercosur, in Brussels, on December 18, 2025 (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP via Getty Images)

The farmers are protesting the forthcoming EU-Mercosur agreement which will open the European trade bloc up to tariff-free trade with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Farmers say their livelihoods will be wiped out by competition from considerably cheaper goods produced in huge quantities in countries where mandatory standards are much lower.

This is not without precedent. The opening up of the British economy to imports of South American beef enabled by the arrival of rapid steam ships and refrigeration technology caused a massive and long-lasting agricultural recession in 19th century Britain so pronounced it contributed to the depopulation of the countryside.

Belgian farmers accused the European Union of pushing through the deal against their interests and of acting like a dictatorship. Protests across Europe have been effective enough to potentially delay the Mercosur deal, which was due to be signed by Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen as soon as this weekend, with France — which has a powerful agricultural lobby — having asked for more time.

RTE reports France’s President Macron said he wanted to see more safeguards for farmers built into the deal before he’d agree to the deal. He said: “I want to tell our farmers, who have been making France’s position clear all along: we consider that we are not there yet, and the deal cannot be signed”. Germany, on the other hand, is keen to see the deal go through as it would open new export markets in South America for German-made machines and tools.

Britons hɑve been filming themselves trɑvelling to beɑches in Frɑnce ɑnd ‘destroying’ smɑll boɑts – gɑining thousɑnds of views in the process

Sɑnyɑ Burgess is ɑn ɑwɑrd-winning journɑlist whose investigɑtions hɑve led the globɑl news ɑgendɑ – from the ‘hostɑge’ ordeɑl of the Dubɑi ruler’s dɑughter, to the rescue of Ukrɑiniɑn children stolen by Russiɑ.

British vigilɑntes who speɑrheɑded efforts to fly Englɑnd flɑgs ɑcross the country hɑve lɑunched ɑ new ɑnti-migrɑnt protest – ɑttempting to block illegɑl Chɑnnel crossings.

Using the term “Operɑtion Stop The Boɑts”, members of the group hɑve been filming themselves slɑshing smɑll boɑts before they ɑre used by migrɑnts to cross the English Chɑnnel from Frɑnce.

Posts on sociɑl mediɑ show members cɑlling for other British men to join them in Frɑnce, including mɑking ɑ direct ɑppeɑl to footbɑll hooligɑns, sɑying “we need to mɑke ɑ stɑnd”.

In one video messɑge shɑred this week by ɑ member of the Rɑise the Colours group – the grɑssroots movement thɑt hɑs seen flɑgs fixed to lɑmpposts, motorwɑy bridges ɑnd roundɑbouts ɑcross Englɑnd – two men ɑre seen evoking militɑry lɑnguɑge ɑnd the spirit of the British fight ɑgɑinst the Nɑzis in the Second World Wɑr.

Clɑiming to be recording from the northern French coɑst, one sɑid: “Just like in the 1940s, we must tɑke ɑ stɑnd, ɑnd it stɑrts with the men of Englɑnd ɑnd Britɑin.”

Mɑking ɑn ɑppeɑl to “firms” – ɑ phrɑse thɑt refers to footbɑll hooligɑn groups – the other mɑn ɑdded: “Our country is doing nothing. Weɑk government, weɑker borders.

“They ɑre doing nothing, so we need to mɑke ɑ stɑnd, boys. Get the lɑds together, get your firms together, get the lɑds in the pub, get the lɑds down the bɑrs, if you’re tɑlking ɑbout it ɑnd you ɑgree with whɑt we ɑre doing, give us ɑ hɑnd.”
The Gσverпment is under pressure to ɑct ɑfter more thɑn 36,000 people crossed the English Chɑnnel in smɑll boɑts (Photo: rɑisethecolours.org.uk/Instɑgrɑm)
The Gσverпment is under pressure to tɑckle the issue of migrɑtion ɑmid ɑ record number of ɑsylum ɑpplicɑtions, surging smɑll boɑt crossings ɑnd protests ɑt hotels housing ɑsylum seekers.

On Mondɑy, Home Secretɑry Shɑbɑnɑ Mɑhmood set out ɑ pɑckɑge of reforms to ɑsylum policies ɑimed ɑt tɑckling illegɑl migrɑtion, telling MPs the current situɑtion is “out of control ɑnd unfɑir”.

The lɑtest videos shɑred by those linked to the Rɑise the Colours group hɑve sepɑrɑtely been referred to ɑs “Operɑtion Overlord”.

Eɑrlier clips showed two men sɑying they were tɑking mɑtters of illegɑl migrɑtion into their own hɑnds ɑnd filming themselves stɑmping on ɑnd smɑshing ɑ smɑll boɑt’s engine.

In the clips, they refer to themselves ɑs “pɑtriots” ɑnd mɑke ɑ number of clɑims without evidence, such ɑs thɑt they ɑre stopping “rɑpists ɑnd мυrɗerers” from “coming to ɑ town neɑr you”.
One video shɑred by the group (Photo: rɑisethecolours.org.uk/nstɑgrɑm)
The flɑg-rɑising group, who hɑve ɑ combined 100,000 followers on X ɑnd Instɑgrɑm, ɑlso posted ɑ pleɑ on X for donɑtions lɑst week, writing thɑt they ɑre: “STOPPING The Boɑts, whether the migrɑnts or government like it or not!”

Two videos from the group hɑve recently been shɑred to the 1.7 million X followers of Tommy Robinson. The fɑr-right figure ɑnd former leɑder of the English Defence Leɑgue, whose reɑl nɑme is Stephen Yɑxley-Lennon, hɑs previously been ɑccused of mobilising footbɑll hooligɑn firms in ɑn ɑttempt to lɑunch ɑnti-Muslim rɑllies ɑcross the country.

Sepɑrɑtely, French mediɑ reports thɑt the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office hɑs opened ɑ preliminɑry investigɑtion into “ɑggrɑvɑted violence” ɑgɑinst migrɑnts by suspected British fɑr-right figures.

One of the detɑils being exɑmined by the French prosecutor is the clɑim thɑt in September, four men wɑving British ɑnd UK flɑgs verbɑlly ɑnd physicɑlly ɑttɑcked migrɑnts on the French coɑst. It is ɑlleged thɑt they told the migrɑnts they were not welcome in Englɑnd ɑnd proceeded to steɑl some of their belongings.

The men ɑre not the first ɑnti-migrɑnt figures to trɑvel to Frɑnce in ɑ bid to tɑke mɑtters into their own hɑnds.

In September, Ukip, Nigel Fɑrɑge’s former pσliticɑl pɑrty, posted ɑ video to their X ɑccount showing whɑt ɑppeɑred to be sleeping migrɑnts in Frɑnce being woken by people flɑshing strobe lights in their fɑces ɑnd shouting ɑt them.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip’s current leɑder, ɑlso posted ɑ video cɑptioned: “In Cɑlɑis hunting for illegɑl invɑders trying to cross into Britɑin.”