A far-right demonstration held by the clock tower in Margate, Kent, on 22 December 2025, has catalysed a profound national discussion about identity, belonging, and the simplistic rhetoric of xenophobia. The protest, captured in a photograph by Krisztián Elek, occurred against a backdrop of rising hostility and has prompted readers of the Guardian to reflect on the meaningless nature of the 'go home' chant used by such groups.
The DNA of Belonging: More Than a Single Label
The debate was ignited by an article from Hugh Muir published on 1 January, in which he explored his own genetic inheritance. Muir argued that we are not "identity parcels labelled from one destination, ready to be returned to sender." His investigation revealed a multitude of genetic connections, challenging the essentialist, ethno-national view of identity often promoted by far-right elements.
However, as several readers pointed out, a DNA test showing multiple ancestries does not simply turn 'home' into a mathematical percentage game, nor does it invalidate a deep-seated sense of belonging to one place, such as Britain. What it powerfully does, as Paul McGilchrist from Cromer, Norfolk, notes, is confound the assumptions of those who insist on seeing identity in narrow, racial terms.
'Settled But Never Quite Cosy': The Reality for Many Britons
Muir's feeling of being "settled but never quite cosy" resonates with many for whom Britishness can feel like an honorary status, periodically challenged by divisive immigration debates and policy. This period is particularly acute, with right-wing populism and a documented rise in hate crime exacerbating tensions. Recent data shows racial and religious hate crime on UK public transport is growing (2 January).
Readers from diverse backgrounds shared their stories, illustrating the absurdity of the 'go home' demand. Elizabeth Whitaker from Giffnock, Glasgow, discovered through DNA testing that she is 27% English, 53% Irish, with the rest reflecting Roma travels across Europe. "I’ve a feeling if we all chose a different 'home' to go to," she writes, "there wouldn’t be many people left to run the ship."
Global Roots, Local Realities
The complexity of modern identity was further highlighted by correspondents from abroad. Dr Meg Perkins, now in New South Wales, was born in Africa to English-speaking white South African parents and has Dutch and African DNA. David Hart, a middle-aged white man with British, Canadian, and Swiss citizenship, was born in Zambia and has lived across four continents.
While Hart is quick to state he does not endure the racism others face, his experience underscores the central point: the concept of 'home' is incoherently simplistic. For the casual xenophobe, as he starkly observes, it is really only skin colour that matters. The chant reveals not a geographical logic, but a racial one.
The demonstration in Margate and the ensuing letters underscore a critical need for a more positive and nuanced national conversation about identity. Without it, as Muir warns, many more may come to feel, like one man he referenced, "the need to watch his back" in their own country.
