AFTER the appalling scenes that came out of Knowsley last week, this Skipper is increasingly concerned about the presence of the 'anti-immigration' crowd turning up in Cornwall. 

The far-right organised protest reportedly started off as peaceful, with a counterprotest arranged to challenge the viewpoints of those in attendance, however, it's been reported that soon after the start men and boys with masks and balaclavas turned up and things took a turn for the worse.

It was also reported that some of those who turned up in masks were armed with hammers and projectiles such as fireworks. 

Firstly, let me just say, if you turn up to a protest masked and armed, you're not making a political point, you're looking to start a riot. There is literally NO other reason as to why you would do this other than because you're looking for trouble.

Of the people in attendance that night, 15 were arrested and, so far, one has been charged. 

Now, do we really want this sort of incident to be repeated in Cornwall? 

The Knowsley protest was allegedly set up by members of a number of far-right extremists and groups on Facebook such as "Hotels Housing Illegals" who were known to be sharing lists of hotels housing asylum seekers. 

We're all well aware of Cornwall's housing crisis, and many other areas across the UK are experiencing exactly the same thing.

However, to attempt to weaponise the scheme of placing asylum seekers in hotels and frame it as though they're living lives of tax-payer-funded luxury, while receiving preferential treatment to British nationals is ludicrous, let alone xenophobic. 

There are no safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to be able to enter the UK, and yet the Home Office sets out that no claims for asylum within the UK will be considered unless coming from someone already in the UK, can you spot the problem there?

Ye Gods, are we really at a point where we're forcing those in desperate need of help to enter the country unlawfully, just so we've got an excuse to turn them down and kick them out?

Have we become that desensitized to the plights of human beings less fortunate than ourselves? 

The people placed in these hotels are escaping some of the worst places on planet Earth, trying to provide better lives for their families, and escaping persecution and harm. 

Are these 'protestors' seriously asserting that they can think of no one better to direct their anger and vitriol at?

Talk about punching down...