At least 43 people were arrested during two rival demonstrations in London on Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered for Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally. The Metropolitan Police deployed over 4,000 officers, including 660 drafted from other forces, in a £4.5 million operation to prevent clashes.
The Unite the Kingdom march, led by Tommy Robinson, saw crowds decked in Union flags and chanting slogans such as 'we want Starmer out'. Speakers included former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen. Robinson urged supporters to register to vote and become politically active, warning that without action, 'we are going to lose our country forever'.
Meanwhile, an estimated 80,000 people attended the pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally, with organisers claiming a quarter of a million participants. Placards bore messages like 'Free Palestine' and 'Stop Arming Israel'. Speakers included MP Diane Abbott, who described the far right as a 'common enemy', and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called for a change in policy rather than personalities.
Police reported that despite the high number of arrests, both protests proceeded largely without significant incident. The operation was one of the busiest policing days in years, coinciding with the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
