Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has condemned Daniel Thomas, a prominent anti-asylum activist, describing him as “far-right and outright racist” amid rising tensions over the proposed accommodation of asylum seekers in Piddington, Oxfordshire. Thomas, who co-founded the Patriot Platform and has a criminal record, has threatened large-scale protests to oppose the relocation of male asylum seekers to a former Ministry of Justice site in the village.
Mahmood’s remarks came as Thomas and his supporters have been mobilizing in Piddington and other locations, including recent disruptive demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth. Thomas, known publicly as “Danny Tommo,” has called for thousands of masked supporters to potentially blockade the site and prevent asylum seekers from entering, pledging to maintain a prolonged presence supported by activists from other parts of the UK. Despite allegations of racism directed at his group, Thomas has insisted his organization does not tolerate racist views and welcomes people of various nationalities.
Locally, opposition to the asylum facility has been expressed through a symbolic vote held on Wednesday, in which 285 residents opposed the plan while 26 supported it. The vote, although non-binding, has garnered interest among hundreds of other town and village councils seeking to replicate similar actions. The campaign in Piddington has received political backing from Conservative, Reform UK, and Liberal Democrat figures.
In response to community concerns, Mahmood sought to differentiate between legitimate anxieties from residents and what she characterized as those exploiting the situation to foment division. She reassured locals that the new accommodation would be “self-contained,” designed to minimize pressure on surrounding infrastructure. Citing experiences at other large asylum facilities in Wethersfield and Crowborough, she argued that housing asylum seekers on centralized sites allows for better management of local impacts.
Mahmood acknowledged the broader nature of public unease, noting that similar worries about asylum seekers arise not only in rural areas but also in urban communities like her Birmingham constituency. She attributed some concerns to misinformation and emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing them constructively.
Addressing recent protests that have involved masked participants blocking roads and confronting arrivals, Mahmood called for stronger police responses. She urged law enforcement agencies to enhance intelligence operations and apply existing powers, including new legislation that permits banning face coverings in specified locations to prevent intimidation or disorder. Hampshire police recently sought such a ban during demonstrations in Portsmouth, Thomas’s hometown.
Alongside her comments on asylum issues, Mahmood used the occasion of a knife crime crackdown launch in Birmingham to announce a £26.25 million funding package targeting over 230 affected areas across England and Wales. The initiative will support additional police patrols, CCTV installation, and intervention programs aimed at vulnerable youth. Mahmood highlighted the role of community venues such as the Acocks Green boxing gym in combating knife crime and was accompanied by campaigners who have lost family members to such violence.
The asylum controversy in Piddington reflects broader national debates over immigration and community cohesion, with government officials balancing enforcement and assurances against opposition movements seeking to influence local and national policy.