Daniel Thomas Branded 'Outright Racist' as He Could Face 'Full Force of Law' Over 5,000-Man Asylum Blockade

Daniel Thomas has been branded 'far-right and outright racist' by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood after he floated a dramatic plan to surround a proposed asylum site with 5,000 men and prevent asylum seekers from entering.

Thomas, known as Danny Tommo and co-founder of the Patriot Platform, described the potential 5,000-man asylum camp blockade during an interview with Tommy Robinson, suggesting supporters could descend on Piddington, Oxfordshire, with tents and remain there for days.

'How powerful would it be if 5,000 men ... surround the camp. We take tents. We sit there for days, and we don't let them [the asylum seekers] get in,' Thomas said.

He went on to suggest the blockade could be reinforced by supporters from northern England, Scotland and Ireland.

Mahmood Delivers Stark Warning

Mahmood responded with a blunt warning, accusing Thomas of exploiting genuine concerns among Piddington residents over plans for a large asylum accommodation site.

Speaking in Birmingham on Thursday, 17 September, she said there was a difference between residents raising legitimate concerns and activists 'hijacking' those fears to divide communities.

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

The warning comes as ministers and police face mounting pressure over recent anti-asylum demonstrations involving masked protesters.

Piddington at the Centre of the Row

The proposed asylum facility is planned at a former Ministry of Defence site near Piddington, with the government intending to accommodate about 1,250 male asylum seekers.

The village has a population of about 358 people, making Thomas's proposed mobilisation vastly larger than the community at the heart of the dispute.

Residents have already staged a highly unusual protest against the plans. On Wednesday, 16 September, a symbolic referendum saw 285 votes in favour of Piddington leaving the UK, compared with 26 against, with one spoiled ballot. The vote has no legal power to remove the village from the UK.

Local opposition also predates Thomas's involvement. Parish representatives have invited political groups and other organisations to engage with residents, while indicating that the community had not sought protection from masked activists.

From Dover to Portsmouth

The proposed asylum camp blockade plan follows recent disruptive protests linked to the Patriot Platform.

Masked supporters were involved in demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth, with protesters blocking roads in Dover and attempting to prevent newly arrived migrants from being transported in Portsmouth.

The demonstrations have also brought face coverings under renewed scrutiny. Mahmood has urged police to use available powers, including provisions allowing face coverings to be prohibited at designated locations. Hampshire police subsequently sought to impose such a restriction during a Portsmouth demonstration. Thomas urged his supporters to stay away.

Thomas Rejects Racism Claims

Thomas has rejected Mahmood's description of him and his movement.

During his interview with Robinson, he said racism was unacceptable within the organisation and insisted the Patriot Platform was not a white nationalist movement.

Thomas was jailed for two years in 2016 after pleading guilty to attempting to kidnap a man at knifepoint. He has also been associated with Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

A Very Different Piddington Visit

The day after the referendum, Thomas visited Piddington without the balaclava-wearing supporters associated with recent Patriot Platform demonstrations.

He was seen in the village wearing a grey suit and white shirt and met local residents. Parish councillor Joe Marshall said Thomas was being shown around and was due to have a cup of tea with a resident. Thomas later visited the entrance to the site and spoke about his plans in an interview with Dan Wootton.

Thomas has described his proposed intervention as a 'legal, lawful plan' to help the community.

For now, the 5,000-man blockade remains a plan Thomas has publicly floated. But with Piddington already locked in a bitter dispute over asylum accommodation, Mahmood's warning has put his proposed intervention firmly under the spotlight.