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 attempts to lead the group in a somewhat professionalised manner, and has voiced his opposition to “racist or neo nazi bullshit”, the ragtag attendees of the group’s small demonstrations seem to often have other ideas.

These have included Scott Pitts, former activist of the EDL as well as the openly fascist National Rebirth Party (NRP), with whom Gilling has a close relationship. At one demonstration outside Hull’s Royal Hotel in June 2024 (attended by another former EDL activist Simon King, NRP activist David Smaller and anti-migrant activist, Lousie Shires), Pitts spoke viciously about “vermin coming over on boats” and how “every politician allowing this to happen is committing treason”. Though Gilling strongly disavows violence, he has previously also been happy to collaborate with NRP’s founder, Alek Yerbury, who has a history of violent statements, and even addressed one of Yerbury’s events in Hull in March 2023.

In the aftermath of the horrific Southport attack, Gilling called a demonstration in Hull’s Victoria Square on 3 August. A large number gathered for a static rally and speeches, before a group splintered off and engaged in some of the worst rioting anywhere in the country. This included a pitched battle at a site of temporary migrant accommodation, outside of which HPP had protested earlier in the year and which had previously been targeted by “migrant hunters”. This was clearly at-odds with Gilling’s plans for the day, and two weeks later, as part of an arrangement with Sky News, he met with an Iraqi asylum seeker who had lived in Hull for 25 years to offer a sincere apology. In the process, Gilling said that his protest had been “hijacked”.

Nevertheless, HPP held another demonstration in mid-January 2025 though, as has become a feature across the broader far right, this was directed in opposition towards Keir Starmer and the Labour government.