Multiple people were arrested as tens of thousands descended on London for rival protests on Saturday, with the Metropolitan Police confirming 31 arrests for a variety of offences. The demonstrations included Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally, which took place amid a £4.5 million policing operation designed to prevent clashes between opposing groups.
Police Operation and Arrests
The Metropolitan Police stated that while the number of arrests may seem high, both protests had proceeded largely without significant incident. More than 4,000 police officers were deployed to the capital, including 660 drafted in from forces outside the Met to prepare for an unprecedented security operation. Armoured vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones, and helicopters were also deployed. It is estimated that over 80,000 people attended the marches, with thousands more travelling to London for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, making it one of the busiest policing days in recent years.
Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom March
At the Tommy Robinson protest, demonstrators set off from Kingsway adorned with Union flags, while others carried flags opposing the Iranian regime. Loud chants of 'we want Starmer out' and 'Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Robinson' were heard as protesters gathered. Many wore red 'Make England Great Again (Mega)' hats and draped themselves in Union flags. Some at the front carried wooden crosses and chanted 'Christ is king'. Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, urged the crowd to get involved in local politics, stating: 'Are you ready for the battle of Britain? 2029 we have an election. We're not asking anyone to go out and fight, but this is the most important moment in our generation. If we don't send a message in our next election, if you don't register to vote, if you don't get involved, if you don't become activists, we are going to lose our country forever.' Other speakers included former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins, television personality Ant Middleton, former actor Laurence Fox, and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.
Pro-Palestine Nakba Day Rally
Organisers estimated that at least a quarter of a million people walked through central London to mark Nakba Day, although police had previously estimated 30,000 attendees. Many carried placards with slogans such as 'Nurses Not Nukes', 'Free Palestine', and 'Stop Arming Israel'. Labour MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators that those gathered faced a 'common enemy' in the 'far right'. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who co-founded Your Party, told supporters that Westminster needs a change in 'policy' not 'personalities'. He said: 'Whatever happens to Keir Starmer, I don't know if he's going to survive the coup, he should know about coups. I know about coups. I know what goes on. But I would say that if there's to be a change, it's got to be a change of policy, not the personalities.' He added: 'To those in Reform and the far right that do so much to attack us all and attack our communities, your hatred can succeed in dividing people, but your hatred will not build one council house, will not improve one hospital, will not teach one child, will not end somebody's homeless life on the streets of London. The only thing that can change that is a change of economic, social, and international policy – that's what brings us together.'
Policing Costs
Ahead of the demonstrations, Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the policing operation would cost the force £4.5 million, with £1.7 million used to bring in officers from other forces to boost numbers.
