Eleven foreign far-right activists have been blocked from entering the United Kingdom before a rally by Tommy Robinson supporters, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused the organiser of “peddling hatred and division”. The banned individuals include US-based anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez, Dutch influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek, and Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński.
The rally, organised by the self-styled Unite the Kingdom group and promoted by Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – is the second of its kind. Last year, more than 100,000 people attended. This year’s event coincides with the FA Cup final and large pro-Palestine marches marking Nakba Day. Live facial recognition will be used for the first time as part of the protest policing operation, and Public Order Act conditions have been imposed on both the Unite the Kingdom event and a pro-Palestinian march.
Starmer, who met senior police figures ahead of Saturday’s operation, said: “We are in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple.” Downing Street added that the prime minister recognised that most attendees are law-abiding citizens who want to protest peacefully.
Speakers at the rally include Siobhan Whyte, mother of Rhiannon Whyte, a woman stabbed to death by an asylum seeker. The event calls for a general election and marks a shift by Robinson towards encouraging political campaigning and voting. Anti-racist counter-demonstrations are also planned.
In contrast, faith leaders have urged unity. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, encouraged people to “choose hope” as part of A Million Acts of Hope Week, a counter-event to “rising hate and division”. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg noted solidarity from Muslim and Christian colleagues during a recent spate of antisemitic attacks.
