‘Christ is King’ was chanted at Christian nationalist, anti-immigration protests in Dover and Portsmouth where hundreds of men uniformed in black and wearing balaclavas blocked roads and surrounded ports. The protests were organised by Patriot Platform, whose founder has described his aim as building a ‘Christian patriotic army’ to put pressure on the Government. Humanists UK has expressed concern over the growing use of Christianity to mobilise anti-migrant protests.
In Dover on Saturday, and Portsmouth on Sunday, demonstrators prevented access to the ports and disrupted traffic for several hours. They shouted ‘Christ is King!’ alongside ‘Stop the boats!’
The organiser, Daniel Thomas, has a conviction for attempted kidnapping but claims to have turned his life around as a church-going Christian. He was jailed for two years in 2016 and subsequently became an associate of Tommy Robinson. Thomas said Patriot Platform started after a group of men from south London began going to church together. In August he said:
‘And now we’re growing a Christian patriotic army that will put so much pressure on the British government in places that it needs to happen that they will have no choice but to listen. And if they don’t, then god help them.’
Three years ago Thomas recounted in a podcast about how an American think tank contacted him to offer to contribute £30,000 to fund the ‘free Tommy Robinson protest’ in Downing Street, with the money appearing in his bank account. Humanists UK has previously expressed dismay at US-style Christian nationalism directly imported into UK politics.
Humanists UK has repeatedly raised the alarm about Christian nationalism in the UK, including Christian preachers denouncing ‘secular humanism’ at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally in September 2025. The following month, a group calling itself the ‘King’s Army’ targeted London’s Soho, shouting homophobic and Christian nationalist slogans.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said:
‘The sight of masked men blocking roads while their organiser talks of building a Christian army should concern everyone who values a free and open society. These events show how religious identity is being used to divide people and give nationalist intimidation a claim to moral authority.
‘People of every religion and belief belong equally in this country. Our common life must be built on shared values, human rights, and democratic institutions. We must challenge movements that use Christianity to decide who belongs, and defend a secular democracy that protects everyone’s freedom equally.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only).
What is Christian nationalism?
Christian nationalism is the name for an ultra-conservative form of religious nationalism that seeks to fuse politics with Christianity, and for the government to promote, or actively enforce, religious interests and their favoured policies. It is opposed to the separation of church and state and to all forms of religious pluralism – such as learning about other beliefs and cultures. More generally, it advocates very conservative Christian social policies, such as rolling back the human rights of LGBT+ people and abortion rights. It staunchly opposes people having choice at the end of life, on the basis that their religion forbids assisted dying.
Read more about our work on rising Christian nationalism.
Read our statement of solidarity with humanists in the United States.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.