Anti-racism activists have held a vigil to mark the death earlier this week of at least 12 refugees.

They died after the small boat they were travelling in from France to Kent sank.

Protestors, organised by the Kent Anti-Racism Network (KARN) and Kent Stand Up To Racism, gathered outside the offices of the East Thanet Labour Party in Newington Road, Ramsgate.

They called for newly elected East Thanet MP Polly Billington and the government to “stop the small boat racist rhetoric” and “implement safe passage now to stop the preventable loss of life for those attempting to seek asylum”.

Among those who died in Tuesday’s tragedy, according to French officials, were six children and a pregnant woman. The boat had more than 60 people on board.

The vigil, held on Friday night, was timed to coincide with a similar demonstration outside Downing Street and others across the country.

Hilary Chuter of KARN said: “The French authorities must be held accountable for these continuing unnecessary deaths. But so too must Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the British state. Britain and France’s border regime means mass murder.”

Ian Venables from KARN added: “Polly Billington was elected on a manifesto of change. KARN agrees, we demand change — change to the policies that ensure the continuation of drownings on our shores. We insist that she raises the issue of safer routes for asylum seekers in the House of Commons as a matter of urgency.

“If her government want to stop the criminal gangs, they should send them this message: ‘We’ll process them in Northern France. Your days of people smuggling will end that way’.”