Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Sends a Chilling Warning to Anti-Migration Activist Danny Tommo and His Supporters

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned anti-migration activist Danny Tommo that he and his supporters could face the full force of the law if they break the law during protests near accommodation for asylum seekers.

Mahmood made the comments while speaking about growing concerns in communities where the Government plans to house large numbers of asylum seekers. She accused some anti-migration activists of taking advantage of local people’s fears about crime, safety and pressure on public services.

Danny Tommo, 37, is a co-founder of Patriot Platform. He has spoken strongly against plans to house more than 1,200 male asylum seekers at a site near Piddington in Oxfordshire.

Tommo has said that thousands of people could travel to the village and remain there for days in an attempt to oppose the plans. He said any action would be legal and peaceful and would aim to support local residents who are unhappy about the proposed asylum accommodation.

However, Mahmood strongly criticised Tommo. Speaking to The Guardian, she described him as “far-right” and “racist” and warned that anyone who breaks the law during protests would face legal action.

The Home Secretary said she understands why people living in Piddington may be worried about such a major change in their community. However, she argued that there is a difference between residents who have genuine concerns and activists who, in her view, are using those concerns to create division.

She said local people should be able to raise reasonable questions and discuss their concerns. But she warned that criminal behaviour would not be accepted.

Mahmood said: “Their behaviour is completely unacceptable. And where they break the law, they will face the full force of the law.”

The dispute comes as residents of Piddington continue to strongly oppose the Government’s plans for the area.

Residents recently took part in a symbolic vote on whether their community should separate from the United Kingdom. More than 91 per cent of the 311 votes cast supported the symbolic move.

The vote was intended to show the level of anger in the community over the Government’s plans. Residents are particularly concerned about the proposed accommodation of more than 1,200 male asylum seekers close to their village.

Tommo visited Piddington after the vote and also went to the Ministry of Defence site where the asylum seekers are expected to be accommodated.

Local parish councillor Joe Parish said Tommo had been invited to walk around the village and speak with residents about their concerns.

Parish said the community was willing to speak with people from different political groups and added that invitations had also been extended to Reform UK, Labour, the Conservatives and Restore.

Speaking about his visit, Tommo said the people he met were ordinary mothers, grandmothers and men who were worried about what could happen to their community.

He said his group wanted to create a legal and lawful plan to support residents and oppose the Government’s plans.

Mahmood, however, tried to reassure residents that housing asylum seekers at one large site could reduce pressure on the surrounding community.

She pointed to other large asylum accommodation sites, including Wethersfield and Crowborough, and said the Government’s experience showed that many services could be provided directly at the accommodation site.

According to Mahmood, this could make the facility largely self-contained and reduce the need for asylum seekers to rely heavily on services in nearby towns and villages.

She said she did not expect the Piddington plans to create the level of pressure on the surrounding area that some residents fear.

The Home Secretary also acknowledged that local people were worried about safety and the wider impact of a large number of new people arriving in their area. However, she suggested that some fears may have been increased by misinformation being shared online.

Mahmood added that concerns about asylum accommodation are not limited to rural communities.

She said people living in inner-city areas have also raised concerns, particularly in places where asylum seekers are housed in houses of multiple occupation and other forms of accommodation.

She said communities across the country have questions about how asylum seekers are accommodated and what impact this may have on local services.

The disagreement is now likely to keep attention focused on Piddington as residents continue to oppose the plans, while the Government insists the proposed site can be managed without placing major additional pressure on the local community.