Photograph: PASeptember 10, 2026 · The Guardian
Mask-wearing demonstrators converged on a four-star Portsmouth lodging under the mistaken belief that individuals seeking asylum were being housed inside. The guests were actually members of the touring Pakistan under-19 cricket squad. George Madgwick, a local councillor representing Reform, arrived at the scene to help resolve the standoff between hotel employees and the gathering crowd. Madgwick, who advised the demonstrators to disperse, termed the confusion an exceptionally regrettable occurrence. Following the disturbance, the England and Wales Cricket Board reached out to verify the well-being of the visiting teenage athletes.