Two Facebook groups say they are standing up for Dorset’s forgotten towns. But an examination of their public posts raises questions about the language, imagery and causes being promoted in the name of patriotism.
They fly the Union flag and St George’s Cross.
They describe themselves as patriots and say they want to protect British or English culture, communities and heritage.
But the public material being shared by two Facebook groups operating in Dorset has prompted questions about where patriotism ends and inflammatory political rhetoric begins.
Poole Patriots has around 8,900 followers and describes its purpose as supporting “English culture, beliefs, community and heritage”.
Its newer counterpart, Weymouth Portland & Dorchester Patriots, has around 72 followers, describes itself as a non-profit organisation and uses the slogan “Save our country, our culture, our customs.”
The Dorset Gazette has reviewed publicly available posts from both pages.
What emerges is a mixture of conventional local political campaigning, opposition to housing developments and HMOs, concerns about immigration — and posts using considerably more confrontational language.
Housing, HMOs and local concerns
Not everything promoted by the groups concerns immigration.
Weymouth Portland & Dorchester Patriots is currently promoting a “Say No to HMO” rally at Weymouth’s Jubilee Clock Tower on 1 November at 1pm.
The event is being promoted alongside patriot groups from Bournemouth and Poole under the slogan:
“Stand together – protect our towns.”
Housing pressures, HMOs, the use of temporary accommodation and the impact of population change are legitimate subjects for political debate.
People can hold strong views on those issues without being racist or extremist.
The question for the Gazette is therefore not whether these subjects can legitimately be discussed — they clearly can — but how the groups themselves frame those discussions.
The Weymouth page has also circulated an infographic headed “Dorset Afghan Resettlement Audit”.
The graphic claims that 302 people are housed under the Afghan resettlement programme across Dorset Council and BCP Council, with 94 attributed to Dorset Council and 208 to BCP.
It also refers to 19 properties and funding figures of £284,440.42 and £225,836.
The Dorset Gazette has not independently verified.
From immigration debate to “invaders”
It is the language used in some of the groups' posts that raises more significant questions.
People arriving in the UK by small boat are repeatedly described as “illegal invaders” rather than asylum seekers or migrants.
One graphic shared by the Weymouth page states:
“We don't care about anything else at the moment but bloody boats illegal invaders!!!”
Another post says its authors are not concerned about events in Palestine or Ukraine, but instead about what is happening in the United Kingdom.
Such language moves the discussion beyond whether government immigration policy is working and towards describing people arriving in Britain as an invading force.
That distinction matters.
Criticism of immigration policy is a legitimate political position. Describing an entire group of people as “invaders” carries a very different implication.
Conspiracy theories and increasingly militant imagery
The Gazette also found material shared by the Weymouth page referring to the “New World Order” and UN Agenda 2030.
One graphic makes claims about alleged plans for “world depopulation”, government-raised children and the ending of the family unit.
The page has also shared a video warning about “Britophobia”, claiming that the country and its people will be lost unless people “act now”.
Again, these are publicly available posts shared by the page. The Gazette is not suggesting that every member or follower of either group necessarily endorses every item posted.
There are also examples of more militarised imagery.
One graphic shared by the Weymouth page depicts two armed figures in combat clothing alongside the Union flag, accompanied by the words:
“How much are you willing to take before enough becomes enough – WHEN!”
The imagery sits alongside posts concerning immigration and Channel crossings.
Calls to watch the coastline
Both groups have also shared screenshots relating to boats and aircraft involved in Channel crossings.
The Weymouth group has encouraged followers to “keep a lookout” along the Weymouth and Portland coastline.
Poole Patriots has similarly told followers to “watch the quay tonight” and keep “all eyes open”, while adding that it was not claiming anyone was coming to Poole.
Taken individually, such posts could be presented as expressions of concern about potential migrant arrivals.
Taken together with the language about “invaders” and the wider material being circulated, however, they raise questions about whether social-media followers are being encouraged to monitor the arrival of migrants themselves.
That is a particularly sensitive distinction when political campaigning takes place alongside real-world activity.
The Daniel Thomas connection
Both pages have also expressed support for Daniel Thomas, known online as Danny Tommo, an anti-migration activist who has recently been charged following an incident involving a boat in the English Channel.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that Thomas, 37, and of no fixed abode, was charged with criminal damage following an allegation that damage was caused to a boat while an emergency responder was on board. He was also charged with an offence under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act concerning an alleged failure to disclose a phone PIN.
Thomas appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 25 September and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Proceedings remain active.
The Weymouth page shared material calling for supporters to “Free Danny Thomas”, while describing the state's actions as an overreach.
Poole Patriots has also published material supporting Thomas and updates connected with the court proceedings.
The Gazette makes no judgment on the allegations against Thomas. He is entitled to a fair trial, and the charges remain matters for the courts.
What is relevant to this investigation is the public support expressed by the two Dorset groups and the wider political context in which that support has been presented.
So, are they patriots or racists?
The answer depends in part on how the terms are defined.
Patriotism — pride in one's country, culture or heritage — is not inherently racist.
Opposition to immigration is not automatically racist.
Concern about housing availability, HMOs, public spending or the use of hotels for accommodation is not inherently racist either.
But criticism of government policy can become something different when entire groups of people are described using dehumanising or hostile language.
The Gazette's review found posts describing migrants as “invaders”, material promoting conspiracy theories, calls for followers to monitor coastal areas for arrivals, and imagery depicting armed figures alongside rhetoric about reaching a point where “enough becomes enough”.
The groups may argue that they represent people who feel ignored by politicians and mainstream organisations.
That position is part of the political debate.
The question is whether the language used to express those concerns contributes to that debate — or whether it risks creating hostility towards particular groups of people.
Ultimately, readers can make their own assessment.
The material examined by the Dorset Gazette is publicly available, and the Weymouth group is currently promoting a rally at the Jubilee Clock Tower on 1 November at 1pm.
Councillor calls for peaceful debate
Dorset Green Party councillor Claudia Webb, who represents Rodwell & Wyke on Dorset Council, said people are entitled to raise concerns about housing, HMOs, immigration and pressures facing local communities.
She said:
“People are absolutely entitled to raise concerns about housing, HMOs, immigration and the pressures facing our communities, and as a councillor I will always listen to those concerns.
“But there is a clear difference between robust political debate and language that dehumanises or intimidates people.
“Whatever our views, I want Weymouth to be a place where concerns can be expressed peacefully, responsibly and without creating fear or division.”
Cllr Webb was elected to Dorset Council in May 2024 and represents Rodwell & Wyke alongside fellow Green councillor Clare Sutton.
The Gazette's findings
The Dorset Gazette has identified four recurring themes in the material reviewed:
Dehumanising language — migrants are described as “invaders”, framing migration in terms associated with an attacking force.
Conspiracy material — posts reference claims surrounding the “New World Order”, Agenda 2030 and alleged depopulation plans.
Coastal monitoring — followers have been encouraged to watch coastal areas and quays for possible migrant arrivals.
Militarised imagery — images of armed figures have been shared alongside rhetoric questioning how much people are prepared to tolerate.
None of these findings, on their own, establishes that every follower or supporter of the groups is racist.
Nor does criticism of immigration policy make somebody racist.
But the combination of the material publicly shared by the pages raises legitimate questions about the political movement developing around the groups — and about how far their message goes beyond conventional local campaigning.
The Dorset Gazette has invites representatives of Poole Patriots and Weymouth Portland & Dorchester Patriots to respond to the findings and will publish any substantive response received.
Sources
Weymouth Portland & Dorchester Patriots — public Facebook page, reviewed 27 September 2026.
Poole Patriots — public Facebook page, reviewed 27 September 2026.
Crown Prosecution Service — Daniel Thomas prosecution announcement.
Dorset Green Party — Cllr Claudia Webb profile and ward information.