More than 110,000 people flooded central London on Saturday for a far-right “Unite the Kingdom” rally organised by Tommy Robinson — a gathering that grew beyond police estimates, amplified anti-Muslim rhetoric, and ended in violent clashes that left 26 officers injured and at least 25 people in custody.
London — More than 110,000 people descended on central London on Saturday for a rally organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, in what authorities and commentators called the largest nationalist demonstration in decades. What began as a “festival of free speech” ended with tense, sometimes violent confrontations between sections of the crowd and police, dozens of arrests and dozens of officers injured.
The march drew people onto Westminster Bridge and into Whitehall from early morning, with coachloads and trains arriving from across the country. Organisers billed the event as “Unite the Kingdom.” Large banks of marchers, waves of Union Jacks and St George’s flags and people standing on bus stops and portable toilets to see the stage underscored the sheer scale of the gathering.
By the time speakers took to the platform in Whitehall, the area was so full that thousands were left stuck on Westminster Bridge and in Parliament Square. The Metropolitan Police said at least 25 people were arrested for offences including affray, violent disorder, assault and criminal damage; 26 officers were injured, four seriously, with injuries ranging from broken teeth to head trauma.
Several high-profile figures addressed the crowd or dialled in by video. Elon Musk spoke by link, accusing the government of presiding over an “erosion of Britain” and calling for radical political change. French far-right politician Éric Zemmour addressed the crowd in French, warning that “the freedom of our peoples is in danger” and urging resistance to what he called the “great replacement.”
Tommy Robinson told the crowd “Britain has finally awoken,” and criticised courts and immigration policy, arguing that the rights of migrants were being placed above those of the “local community.” Stalls near the stage sold books co-authored by Robinson and other items reflecting the rally’s themes.
Marchers chanted and sang as they moved through Westminster — at times adopting the distinctive “Seven Nation Army” tune — and some held signs calling for a tougher line on migration. A small number of performers stoked the crowd: members of New Zealand’s Destiny Church performed a haka and later tore up flags associated with Islamist groups to loud cheers.
Not everyone at the event framed their attendance in far-right terms. An elderly woman from Merseyside who travelled with her son described herself as “British through and through” and said she had come to “get our country back,” calling her presence “patriotic.” Others framed the gathering as a protest at government policies, not a march of hate.
An estimated 5,000 counter-protesters — union members, anti-fascist groups and opposition activists — marched a separate route through central London. Speakers such as MP Diane Abbott denounced Robinson and his allies as “anti-women” forces and urged resistance, accusing them of exploiting social grievances while opposing equality measures.
The political fallout was immediate. Police and political leaders condemned the violent episodes, and Labour and other parties called for robust action against hate speech and disorder.
Met Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said officers faced “wholly unacceptable” levels of violence. He described physical attacks on officers and attempts to breach police cordons, and warned that an investigation was under way to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence,” he said, listing serious injuries sustained by officers, including broken teeth and suspected concussions.
On the Whitehall stage, Robinson played footage that included images of convicted grooming gang members and videos of victims, and his rhetoric pivoted between appeals to patriotism and stark warnings about migration. Supporters sold literature and chanted in support; a handful of stalls sold hard-line titles and merchandise.
At the anti-fascist march, organisers stressed the need to counter racism and protect vulnerable communities. Diane Abbott said the event’s allies “are some of the most anti-women forces in society” and urged people to stand together against what she described as a rising tide of far-right organising.
The Met said dozens of officers remained working to identify those responsible for violent offences and urged anyone who witnessed disorder to come forward. With arrests made and an investigation under way, police and city officials will now face pressure to assess how such a large and volatile demonstration was policed, and whether more should be done to prevent violence at future events.
Saturday’s turnout — and the role played by international figures and hard-line rhetoric — underlined how polarised and combustible Britain’s public square has become. For many Londoners, the day’s scenes of mass protest and pitched confrontations were a stark reminder that public anger over immigration and national identity is reaching new intensity.
