Updated 18 Feb 2026

CASE FILE: Hull Patriotic Protesters

Name Hull Patriotic Protesters
Tags Anti-Migrant and Anti-Muslim
Categories Street Network
Related People/Groups Rise of the Footsoldier
Years Active 2023 – Present
Active Areas Yorkshire and the Humber

 

 

Founded in 2023 by former English Defence League (EDL) activist John Gilling (AKA John Francis), Hull Patriotic Protesters (HPP) is a small street movement with a primary focus on immigration, refugees and asylum seekers.

Whilst Gilling has voiced his opposition to “racist or neo nazi bullshit”, the attendees of the group’s small demonstrations have included various fascists, including other ex-EDL activists such as Scott Pitts; at a protest outside Hull’s Royal Hotel in June 2024, Pitts described migrants as “vermin”. 

On 3 August, HPP was also the organiser of a protest following the Southport attack that spiralled into one of the worst riots in the country. Gilling subsequently claimed that his protest had been “hijacked”.

HPP has continued to hold a series of small protests throughout 2025 on a grab-bag of issues, from immigration to “far left fascism” and “two tier justice”.

 

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