A Labour Council leader has been severely criticised after calling for the formation of an 'anti-migrant militia' to defend Britiain's coastline.
Brendan Chilton, the Labour Group Leader on Ashford Council in Kent, suggested that ordinary Brits could set up a "Home Guard" to repel asylum seekers arriving on UK shores.
Writing on Twitter, Chilton said:
"Here's an idea. It's quite clear the Channel migrant crisis is not going away. The Government haven't got a clue. How many are arriving and then disappearing? Perhaps we need to form a sort of 'Home Guard'- voluntary- to support the coast guard, police, border force etc?'
The leader of @ashfordlabour @BrendanChilton has now deleted his anti-refugee tweet so here's a screenshot. pic.twitter.com/Qu30zrQrEf
— Bridget Chapman 🧡 #WearAMask #GetVaccinated (@BridgeeCee) August 11, 2021
After being inundated with a torrent of criticism, Chilton swiftly deleted his tweet - but not before numerous Twitter users managed to grab screenshots, leading to even further criticism:
As a Labour councillor proposes the creation of an anti-migrant militia, Breakthrough stands in solidarity with refugees looking for a better life. pic.twitter.com/0Jm3bFhNJb
— Breakthrough Party 🟠🌤️ (@BThroughParty) August 11, 2021
Labour council group leader appears to call for migrant vigilante groups. https://t.co/i43lDqyZF3
— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) August 11, 2021
This is one of the reasons why I detest the Labour stance on immigration almost as much as the Tories’. The racist rhetoric is incredible (Home guard? An armed force to repel and invasion? To meet refugees? Really?!) and. It in any way new https://t.co/0oXX6NH0jq
— Rachel Mantell🧡 (@Rachel_Mantell) August 11, 2021
Dad's Army is meant to be a satire, not an instruction manual https://t.co/nPIfGvL9D8
— ten million hardbacks (@10mhardbacks) August 11, 2021
Right-wing, vigilante, insanity from the leader of @AshfordLabour . 👻#BrexitReality @UKLabour https://t.co/hEojNQSLkm
— Neil Shima. 😷 💙💙 (@StickMan_v7) August 11, 2021
Despite removing his tweet, Chilton has since doubled down on his suggestion - responding to numerous Twitter users in an attempt to defend it.
In one response, Chilton claimed that criticism of his tweet was "crazy", stating:
"If you can have volunteers helping the NHS, Schools etc why can’t you have volunteers helping an underfunded and overstretched border force? I genuinely don’t see the problem here but Twitter has as usual gone crazy."
If you can have volunteers helping the NHS, Schools etc why can’t you have volunteers helping an underfunded and overstretched border force? I genuinely don’t see the problem here but Twitter has as usual gone crazy.
— Brendan Chilton (@BrendanChilton) August 11, 2021
However, in response to Chilton's attempted defence, journalist Tristan Cross quipped:
"what could be the problem with empowering groups of vigilante would-be cops to patrol britain's borders in order to repel refugees, despite having absolutely no jurisdiction to do so, i wonder"
what could be the problem with empowering groups of vigilante would-be cops to patrol britain's borders in order to repel refugees, despite having absolutely no jurisdiction to do so, i wonder
— Stan Cross (@tristandross) August 11, 2021
Chilton has also since claimed that he wasn't suggesting an anti-migrant militia or a vigilante group, but instead a volunteer organisation to provide asylum seekers with "tea, food, water blankets etc":
So having volunteers with tea, food, water blankets etc, registered and trained to help and care for them till authorities arrived would be soo awful. Christ I’ve entered a parallel universe.
— Brendan Chilton (@BrendanChilton) August 11, 2021
In addition to being the Labour Group leader on Ashfield Council, Chilton is also the head of the pro-Starmer campaign organisation, Labour Future.