Major Unrest in the Capital
London witnessed one of its largest far-right rallies in modern history on Saturday, as more than 110,000 people took to the streets to protest against immigration. The event, called the “Unite the Kingdom” march, turned violent as clashes broke out between protesters and police. Authorities confirmed that 26 officers were injured, four of them seriously, in what they described as “unacceptable violence.”
The march, led by controversial activist Tommy Robinson, drew an even larger turnout than police had expected, with some estimates putting attendance at up to 150,000. Officers deployed 1,600 personnel to maintain order and keep the protesters separated from around 5,000 counter-demonstrators gathered nearby at Whitehall.
Police Face Violence and Arrest Dozens
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist of the Metropolitan Police condemned the violence, stating that while many protesters had come to exercise their lawful right to demonstrate, “a significant number came intent on causing harm.”
Police reported that their officers were subjected to verbal abuse, physical attacks, and attempts to break through security cordons. Injuries included broken teeth, concussions, and a suspected broken nose. At least 25 arrests were made during the disturbances, and police have vowed to identify and prosecute others involved in the unrest.
Government Response and Condemnation
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood strongly condemned the attacks on police, warning that “anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.” Politicians across the spectrum, including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, also criticized the violence, saying that “far-right thugs do not speak for Britain.”
Rally Fueled by Immigration Concerns
Saturday’s demonstration comes amid heightened tensions over immigration in the UK following a summer of protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, called the march “a show of patriotic unity” and told supporters it marked “the spark of a cultural revolution in Great Britain.”
Many attendees carried the Union Jack and England’s St George’s Cross, while some wore MAGA hats associated with former US President Donald Trump. Slogans and placards at the march included “Send them home,” directed at migrants and asylum seekers.
High-Profile Figures Join the Rally
Robinson was joined—virtually and in person—by several high-profile figures, including US billionaire Elon Musk, French far-right leader Eric Zemmour, and Petr Bystron of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Musk, speaking via video link, said he believed Britain was facing “a rapid erosion” of its national identity due to what he described as uncontrolled immigration. Zemmour repeated the controversial “Great Replacement” theory, which claims European populations are being deliberately replaced by immigrants from Africa and the Middle East.
Largest Far-Right Gathering in Decades
Experts have called the march one of the biggest right-wing demonstrations in UK history. Joe Mulhall of the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate told the BBC it was “probably the largest far-right demonstration ever in Britain.” Georgios Samaras, a political analyst at King’s College London, noted that the event brought together multiple far-right factions and new supporters under one banner.
Counterprotest Calls for Unity
At the same time, thousands of anti-racism campaigners gathered nearby to oppose Robinson’s rally. Organized by Stand Up to Racism, the counterprotest featured signs reading “Refugees Welcome” and “Smash the Far Right.” Left-wing lawmakers Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana joined the event, calling for solidarity with asylum seekers and denouncing what they described as Robinson’s “dangerous lies.”
Teacher Ben Hetchin, who attended the counterprotest, said he worried about “the hate that is dividing us” and argued that welcoming refugees makes Britain “stronger as a country.”
Political Impact
The event comes as the anti-immigration Reform UK party gains political traction, with recent polls suggesting it could become the UK’s largest party if elections were held today. Reform UK has publicly distanced itself from Robinson, who has previous criminal convictions and a history of legal battles.
While significant, Saturday’s rally was still smaller than some of London’s largest protests, including the 300,000-strong pro-Palestinian march held in November 2023. Still, experts warn that the scale of the event highlights the growing momentum of far-right activism in Britain.
Sources: Al Jazeera
