Reform fails to condemn Danny Tommo’s livestreamed boat attack and violent masked men, then attacks the police instead - Reform Watch

Daniel Thomas, better known as Danny Tommo, livestreamed himself pursuing two dinghies across the Channel on Tuesday before approaching one after its passengers had been transferred to rescue vessels. Footage showed him repeatedly puncturing the inflatable craft with a blade while a rescue worker remained aboard, warning the worker to “get off” before accelerating away and shouting “traitors”. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is now conducting enquiries into the damage. Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters subsequently gathered near Haslar Marina in Gosport, where many wore black clothing and face coverings. A child was filmed leading chants of “let them drown” through a megaphone. Police said some protesters became hostile after learning that the boat would dock in Dover instead, leading to six arrests. Four people were detained on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, two on suspicion of aggravated trespass and one of those arrested was also suspected of careless driving. Reform’s official account of the night described those present as “concerned residents” exercising their right to peaceful protest. Its article quoted Gosport councillor Paul Carter praising the turnout, repeated the party’s “illegal invasion” rhetoric and omitted the hostile confrontation, the arrests, the “let them drown” chant and the police investigation into Thomas. George Madgwick, Reform’s leader in Hampshire, instead attacked the emergency response. Sharing footage of the operation, he complained that coaches had received “more protection than the King” and described the police convoy as larger than one provided for the Prime Minister. Police said officers had been deployed to protect the community, facilitate lawful protest and support emergency services in the event of an incident at sea. Madgwick later criticised Thomas’s conduct and acknowledged that the footage could bring serious consequences. Reform’s official article remained silent about it while presenting a crowd containing masked agitators as an expression of legitimate public anger. By directing suspicion towards the officers facing hostility and alleged assaults, Reform offered political cover to the movement responsible for the disorder. Its commitment to law and order appears to end whenever the suspected offenders share its politics.