Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told tens of thousands of supporters to prepare for the 'battle of Britain' during a rally in London on Saturday. The second 'unite the kingdom' march drew an estimated 60,000 people, down from 150,000 in September, according to police. Organisers claimed millions attended.
Robinson urged the crowd to move beyond street protest and become involved in local politics before the next general election in 2029. 'We're a cultural movement,' he said, encouraging supporters to join political parties such as Reform, Advance, Restore, or the Conservatives.
The Metropolitan Police said it had spent £4.5m policing the march and a separate pro-Palestinian demonstration. About 4,000 officers were deployed, along with armoured vehicles, dogs, drones and helicopters. As of 7.30pm, 43 arrests had been made across both events, with two men arrested near Euston station.
The protest had a significant Christian theme, with many demonstrators carrying wooden crosses and chanting 'Christ is king'. Some wore red 'make England great again' hats. Robinson led chants of support for Elon Musk, thanking him on behalf of Great Britain.
The rally was also addressed by Siobhan Whyte, whose daughter Rhiannon was murdered by a Sudanese asylum seeker in 2024. She blamed Prime Minister Keir Starmer for her daughter's death, saying 'he has failed us'. Polish politician Dominik Tarczyński, claiming to have been banned from entering the UK, addressed the crowd via video link.
