Hundreds attend Patriotic Alternative anti-migration demonstration and Stand Up to Racism counter protest at Castle House in Newark.

A mass anti-migration demonstration took place in Newark today.

There was a strong police presence outside of Castle House, in Newark, where the Patriotic Alternative group had chosen to stage their protest.

The Patriotic Alternative describe themselves as being supporters of free speech and an activist group for the “civil rights of indigenous English people”.

A large number of counter protesters were also present, from groups such as Stand Up To Racism and Unite the Union, chanting in support for migrants and their contribution to British society.

Hundreds attended on both sides of the divide, but were kept apart by the large police response, with officers forming a buffer zone that prevented any altercations.

Supporters of Patriotic Alternative were seen carrying banners with slogans such as “deport all illegal migrants”, “secure our borders”, and “end the invasion, stop immigration.”

One banner read “shut down Beckingham Camp” — a MOD training camp, just outside Newark, is currently being used to house Afghani citizens and their families, who aided British forces during the war in Afghanistan, and are seeking asylum as political refugees.

The demonstration was said to have been organised by Newark man Matthew Darrington, who ran in the 2024 General Election as the English Democrats’ candidate in Newark.

Mr Darrington was one of several speakers to address the crowd and spoke out the need to “protect England”, as well as the threat of white people becoming “a minority” in the UK as a result of migration.

Also speaking were representatives from the Patriotic Alternative group, including deputy leader Laura Towler whose husband was jailed in 2024 for race hate offences, and its founder Mark Collett who recently received a European travel ban.

Counter protesters could be heard chanting during the speeches, spreading the message that “migrants are welcome here”.

Richard Buckwell, who helped organise the counter-protest said the majority of local people in Newark are opposed to the message being shared by Patriotic Alternative, a group he described as being a “fascist organisation”.

The demonstration and counter-protest peacefully concluded and the police ensured that both sides were kept apart while individuals dispersed.