Tens of thousands of protesters joined a far-right protest in central London on Saturday led by activist Tommy Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Organizers billed the event as a show of national unity and opposition to immigration, while Robinson urged supporters to remain peaceful and to become politically active ahead of future elections.
Robinson, a former football hooligan turned anti-Islam campaigner, has gained a higher public profile in recent years. He has previous convictions for offences including assault and stalking. Last September he drew large crowds to a similar rally in the capital, with reports at the time suggesting as many as 150,000 participants.
Metropolitan Police prepared a significant deployment for Saturday’s march, placing some 4,000 officers on duty and using horses, dogs, drones and helicopters. Police said they were also managing a large pro-Palestinian counter-demonstration and the FA Cup final, stretching resources across multiple major events in the city.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the Unite the Kingdom march, saying it “peddles hate and division.” Authorities have warned that, under recent protest rules, organisers and any speakers who use rallies to promote extremism or hate speech could face prosecution.
On stage Robinson spoke about what he described as the “Islamification” of Britain and urged people to register to vote and get involved in politics ahead of the 2029 election cycle. He has previously travelled to the United States to promote his views on Islam and immigration.
Public concern about migration has been a major driver of support for such movements in the UK, as thousands continue to cross the English Channel in small boats each year. Official census figures show that in 2021 about 6.5% of people in England and Wales identified as Muslim, up from 4.9% in 2011.
Police maintained a visible presence around the rally and counter-protests to limit disorder. Organisers insisted the march would be peaceful, while opponents and many senior politicians warned of the risks of normalising hardline anti-immigration and anti-Muslim rhetoric in public politics.