More than 110,000 people attended a far-right protest in London organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, in what is believed to be the largest nationalist event in decades. The demonstration, billed as a 'festival of free speech', descended into violence as crowds clashed with police, leaving 26 officers injured, four seriously. At least 25 people were arrested for offences including affray, violent disorder, and assault.
The Metropolitan Police said officers faced 'unacceptable violence' as bottles, flares, and other projectiles were thrown. The scale of the protest vastly exceeded police estimates, with marchers spilling out of Whitehall, the designated endpoint, leading to tense confrontations. Elon Musk addressed the crowd via video link, speaking of 'the rapidly increasing erosion of Britain' and calling for the dissolution of Parliament.
French far-right politician Éric Zemmour also spoke, promoting the 'great replacement' conspiracy theory, claiming that Europeans are being 'colonised by our former colonies'. The rally featured anti-Muslim hate speech and racist conspiracy theories, with stalls selling books co-authored by Robinson titled 'Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill for Islam'.
About 5,000 counter-protesters from trade unions and anti-fascist groups marched separately. The main crowd, largely white and waving Union Jack and St George flags, chanted 'Tommy' and 'England' as they crossed Westminster Bridge. Attendees denied the event was far-right, describing it as a 'patriotic visit' and expressing concerns about immigration and government policies.
One elderly woman from Merseyside said she was 'British through and through' and felt compelled to attend for her country. Another attendee from south Wales said the rally was about uniting the kingdom, which she felt was 'so divided'. The protest marks a significant escalation in far-right mobilisation in the UK, with organisers claiming it as a victory for free speech.
