Full Breakdown
Lewisham Council Declares “Mass Community Resistance” to Home Office Raids
7/28/2026, 8:14:34 PM
Core Event
Lewisham Council in London, led by Mayor Liam Shrivasta, passed a motion refusing to use council resources or public money to assist Home Office immigration raids. The motion creates a “clear firewall” between the council and immigration enforcement, and the council will cooperate with Lewisham Anti-Raids, a local group that publicly opposes Home Office vans transporting migrants to detention centres.
Background & Context
The council’s stance comes as Home Office enforcement activity has surged. A Home Office spokesman said that immigration enforcement visits have produced an 83 % rise in illegal-working arrests and a 77 % rise in raids between July 1 2024 and December 31 2025. Council members cite recent raids on businesses such as a nail bar earlier in 2026, describing them as part of a pattern targeting migrant-run enterprises.
Official Statements & Responses
- Liam Shrivasta (Mayor, Lewisham Council) stated that the council will not cooperate with any raid squads and will protect residents from what he called “politically motivated intimidation.”
- Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary, called the council’s anti-raid campaign “tantamount to incitement to violence” and urged police to investigate Lewisham Anti-Raids for encouraging mob action against public officials.
Verbatim Quotes
- “People die in asylum accommodation in the UK, and too many lose their lives on their way: in lorries, in the Channel or the Mediterranean.” — Lewisham Anti-Raids, spokesman
