More than 110,000 people joined a far-right protest in London organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, in what is thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades. The demonstration, billed as a “festival of free speech”, saw marchers travel to the capital by train and coach, and by its conclusion had amplified racist conspiracy theories and anti-Muslim hate speech across Whitehall.
The Metropolitan Police said at least 25 people were arrested and 26 officers were injured, including four seriously, as officers faced “unacceptable violence” after being “assaulted with kicks and punches. Bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown.” Arrests were made for affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage.
The crowds were addressed via video link by Elon Musk, who spoke of “the rapidly increasing erosion of Britain” and called for the dissolution of the UK parliament. French far-right politician Éric Zemmour told protesters they were subject to “the great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture”, adding that “you and we are being colonised by our former colonies”.
The scale of the protest vastly outgrew police estimates, and Whitehall quickly became so full it was closed to marchers before the first speakers took to the stage, leaving thousands stuck on Westminster Bridge and in Parliament Square. Around 5,000 counter-protesters from trade unions and anti-fascist groups marched on a separate route.
Some participants denied the event was far-right. An elderly woman in a wheelchair from Merseyside said she was “British through and through”, while her son said they were “followers of Tommy Robinson and what he stands for”. Another attendee from south Wales, Carol, said “we need to unite the kingdom basically, it just seems to be so divided”, and said of Robinson: “He's doing really well. He's changed a lot of minds.”
