Eleven foreign far-right activists have been blocked from entering the UK ahead of a rally by Tommy Robinson supporters, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Robinson of 'peddling hatred and division'. The banned individuals include US anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez, Dutch influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek, and Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński.
Starmer met senior police figures ahead of Saturday's event and stated: 'We are in a fight for the soul of this country... We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence.' Downing Street said the Prime Minister recognised that most attendees are law-abiding citizens and urged peaceful protest.
The rally, organised by Robinson—whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon—marks a shift towards encouraging supporters to engage in political campaigning. It coincides with pro-Palestine events marking Nakba Day and the FA Cup final in London. Live facial recognition will be used for the first time in protest policing, and Public Order Act conditions have been imposed on both the Robinson event and a pro-Palestinian march.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally urged people to 'choose hope' ahead of the rally, as part of A Million Acts of Hope Week, a counter-event to 'rising hate and division'. She said: 'When we watch the news... it can feel as though our country is more divided than ever. But this is not the whole story.' Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg also expressed hope from interfaith solidarity during a recent spate of antisemitic attacks.
