A residents' rally had been called on Tuesday 12th October after Conservative councillor Luke Stubbs tabled a motion calling for the City Council to reject aid and assistance to the plight of refugees.

Nearly 100 local residents, ranging from students to pensioners, armed with home-made placards and catchy slogans, held a peaceful vigil on the Guildhall's steps as officials and councillors filed passed to attend a full-council meeting.

Across the Guildhall Square, hidden away on top of a balcony of the civic offices, seven masked members of an extremist splinter group from the now discredited EDL, the fascistic 'Pie & Mash Squad' (Pie & Mash = Fash, apparently), all bedecked in cute matching black beanies and face masks, unfurled a banner stating 'Portsmouth Says No to Refugees'.

The balcony banner was also emblazed twice with the numerical fascist symbol '5W' which stands for '5 words: We go where we want', although one amused eye-witness pointed out they had segregated themselves as far away as possible, safely perched on a balcony.

Younger sections of the residents' rally later approached the Civic Offices, during some good-natured rival banter between the opposing sides, although the 'Pie & Mash Squad' declined the invitation to come down from the safety of their balcony and meet with the rally below.

"It speaks volumes that Cllr Stubbs seeks to aligned himself with these right-wing extremists rather than the people of Portsmouth, who have shown their compassion as good samaritans over the past two-months," one of the rally organisers told the assembled crowd.

The event passed peacefully and no arrests were made.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9mqMxzMMB0