Liam Tomsett, a father of two from Crowborough, Sussex, became a key figure in anti-migrant protests after learning about plans to house up to 540 asylum seekers at a nearby military base. He formed "Crowborough Says No" and led violent confrontations that escalated into his arrest on charges later dropped. The Channel 4 documentary "England 'Til I Die," airing tonight, follows Tomsett over nine months as he organizes protests against contractors working at the site and questions the presence of asylum seekers in his community.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
A protester has revealed his transformation into a prominent figure in Britain's anti-migrant movement after becoming angry about asylum seekers being housed locally.
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seekers → reveal → movement
Liam Tomsett started organising rallies in Crowborough after hearing that a former military training camp would be used as accommodation for up to 540 men.
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camp → start → men
The father-of-two, who lives in the Sussex commuter town, set up 'Crowborough Says No' with a friend as they tried to stop contractors from working at the centre.
But the confrontations soon became violent, leading to Mr Tomsett's arrest – and the demonstrators began facing counter-protests as others condemned their actions.
Plans to use the camp for housing migrants were first announced last October by the Government, before the move was confirmed in January - sparking huge protests.
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move → live → protests
Mr Tomsett was followed by filmmaker Jamie Roberts for nine months for a new Channel 4 documentary called 'England 'Til I Die' which airs at 10pm tonight.
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which → follow → pm
Speaking about his life before starting the group, he said: 'Last summer, I was just changing jobs, moving house, newly single and going to the odd protest.'
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I → speak → protest
Liam Tomsett leads a 'Crowborough Says No' protest against the opening of an asylum camp
Liam Tomsett embraces his partner Sharna at a Tommy Robinson rally in London
The activists tried to stop contractors working at the centre, in protests which turned violent
The utilities manager decided to set up the group after hearing on the radio about plans for the use of the camp, saying: 'I thought something's got to be done about it.'
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something → lead → it
On the blockade, he added: 'We're trying to make people feel uncomfortable about being there.
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people → add → blockade
That if you are working there, you are part of the problem.'
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you → work → problem
He was arrested and charged with common assault and possession of an offensive weapon, although the charges were later dropped.
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charges → arrest → weapon
On his involvement with the protests, Mr Tomsett also said: 'It's taken over.
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It → say → protests
I've got two grown-up children.
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I → get → children
I've lost my father.
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I → lose → father
I don't think I've had time to grieve.'
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I → think → time
He added: 'Six weeks ago life was very easy.
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life → add → ?
I bought a new place.
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I → buy → place
Don't take anything for granted as things can change very, very quickly.'
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things → take → anything
Mr Tomsett was also filmed interrogating three men who came from the asylum centre to go to church for a Sunday service.
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who → film → service
He said: 'I wouldn't say I was intimidating them.
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I → say → them
I was engaging them in conversation.
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I → engage → conversation
We weren't chasing them.
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We → chase → them
We were walking with them.
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We → walk → them
If they were scared, how do you think the women and children feel walking home at night?
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women → think → night
They are not wanted.
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They → want → ?
How do we know they haven't committed a crime?'
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they → know → crime
Later in the documentary, Mr Tomsett was arrested again for confronting a business owner trying to provide training to asylum seekers, before being released by police with no further action.
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Tomsett → arrest → action
Mr Tomsett's new partner Shana also appears in the documentary, saying that he 'opened her eyes fully'.
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he → appear → eyes
Liam Tomsett addresses demonstrators at an anti-immigration rally in Braintree, Essex
Liam Tomsett and others hold a banner in front of the statue of Winston Churchill in London
She added: 'It's always in your algorithm.
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It → address → algorithm
We are dwindling.
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We → dwindle → ?
White British people being taken over by Muslims very, very rapidly.'
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people → take → Muslims
Mr Tomsett said: 'There is an agenda to replace us.
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Tomsett → say → us
Asked whether he was prepared to lose his job over his beliefs, he said: 'My beliefs?
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he → ask → beliefs
It is about keeping your community safe.
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It → keep → community
I don't think it is a belief, it is a duty.'
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it → think → ?
It comes as police forces have stepped up planning and intelligence-gathering after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that anti-migrant protesters are trying to intimidate communities.
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protesters → come → communities
Crowds of masked men blocked road access to the Port of Dover on September 5, followed by official vehicles being damaged and a handful of police officers being injured in a stand-off with protesters the following night in Portsmouth.
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handful → block → Portsmouth
In Oxfordshire today, a village which could house more than 1,000 asylum seekers voted overwhelmingly to become an independent state in a symbolic 'referendum'.
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which → house → referendum
The people of Piddington voted to secede from the UK after the Government announced plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base.
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Government → vote → base
Mr Roberts, who is behind the new Channel 4 documentary, was also a co-director of the controversial BBC documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone.
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who → survive → Warzone
Ofcom sanctioned the BBC for breaching the Broadcasting Code in that documentary after the corporation failed to disclose the 13-year-old narrator was a Hamas official's son.
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narrator → sanction → documentary
'England 'Til I Die' is on Channel 4 tonight at 10pm
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I → die → 10
The Aporia
