There’s no sign of Bibby Stockholm going and the people of Portland are frightened - Analysis by Jeff Moody

The cruise industry was the main earner for the privately owned Portland Port - until they branched out into asylum barges.

The Bibby Stockholm, the subject of acres of newsprint and hours of TV reporting - stands empty and forlorn, alongside the cruise ship.

What greets the passengers, as they wend their way into town, are two demonstrations.

Stand Up to Racism march along the street, chanting “No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here.”

Anti-barge protesters hold up signs accusing Portland Port of betrayal, of lies, of ignoring the locals.

The whole gamut of viewpoints are on display here, from the hard-right anti-immigration lobby, to the people who are making up welcome packs for the asylum seekers - and all manner of opinions in between.

But there’s a difference. I’ve been coming to Portland for months now.

Usually, locals are queuing up to go on camera, to make their voices heard.

Now I have to cajole and persuade them to appear.

The people of Portland are frightened. They know that every comment, every opinion, subjects them to personal attacks online.

Say the wrong thing and their bosses will be contacted, their families targeted, words like “fascist” and “nazi” lobbed at them with the precision of a hand grenade.

And they’re tired. They’ve painted their banners, marched their streets, shouted their slogans.

And it seems none of it has done any good.

Alex Bailey was a leading voice in the protests here.

He’s become an expert at media coverage. But he’s retired from the fray, the vitriolic attacks too much to take.

He’s had to go cold turkey, shutting himself off from social media just to get his head together.

And he’s not the only one. A lady takes me for coffee and tells me she’s worried.

“What happens when the barge is gone?” she says. “What happens to our community then? Neighbours don’t speak to neighbours, families are divided, friendships over.”

But there’s no sign of the barge going. Barrel loads of fruit and veg are being loaded on board, new ramps installed.

Something is happening. It won’t be long before the Home Office tries again to fill the Bibby with asylum seekers - within days, I’m told.

And then the round of protests, angry words and vitriol begins again.