Prime Minister Keir Starmer has affirmed that Britain will “never yield” to extremist protesters who misuse the national flag as a disguise for violence and intimidation, following chaotic scenes at one of the largest far-right demonstrations in recent memory.
More than 110,000 participants gathered in central London on Saturday for a protest against immigration, organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Some attendees at the Unite the Kingdom rally clashed with law enforcement. The Metropolitan Police reported that twenty-six officers sustained injuries, and at least 24 individuals were arrested.
In his first public statement since the rally, Starmer expressed on Sunday that peaceful protest is a fundamental value in Britain, yet he denounced assaults on police and intimidation against marginalized communities.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is central to our country’s identity,” he stated. “However, we cannot tolerate assaults on police officers performing their duties or individuals feeling threatened in our streets because of their background or skin color.”
He continued: “Britain is a nation built on principles of tolerance, diversity, and respect. Our flag symbolizes our diverse society, and we will never relinquish it to those who wield it as a symbol of violence, fear, and division.”
Islam is the ‘real enemy’
The protest on Saturday featured nationalistic symbols, skirmishes, and provocative speeches. Videos captured police on horseback being targeted with bottles, while officers used batons to disperse Robinson’s supporters and ensure that around 5,000 counter-demonstrators could exit the Whitehall area of central London safely.
A platform was set up for speeches from various far-right figures. Robinson led the charge, declaring to the crowd: “It is not just Britain being invaded. It is not just Britain that is being assaulted.”
“All Western nations are facing the same crisis: an orchestrated, intentional invasion and replacement of European citizens,” he added.
Speakers from abroad included French politician Eric Zemmour, who echoed Robinson’s sentiments. “We are both facing the same threat of the great replacement, where our European populations are being replaced by those coming from the south and from Muslim culture,” he stated, referencing the conspiracy theory that posits that white Europeans are deliberately displaced by people of other ethnicities.
“You and we are being colonized by our former colonies,” Zemmour asserted.
Belgian far-right politician Filip Dewinter similarly insisted: “It must be clear that Islam is our actual enemy. We need to eradicate Islam. Islam does not belong in Europe, and it does not belong in the UK.”
Other speakers included Morten Messerschmidt of the Danish People’s Party, German MP Petr Bystron of the Alternative for Germany party, and Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski.
Tesla’s CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk also joined the event via video link, urging protesters for an “urgent change in government” and warning them to “fight back” or “perish.”
Police, government, and antifascist groups denounce violence
This rally unfolded amidst a wave of far-right violence in recent months, including arson incidents targeting hotels that house asylum seekers.
Experts indicated that these occurrences, driven by conspiracy theories, xenophobia, and online misinformation, have raised alarms about the rise of far-right movements throughout Britain and Europe, often resulting in riots and unrest.
Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Matt Twist described the violence against officers as “entirely unacceptable.” He added, “It is clear that while many joined to exercise their lawful right to protest, others came with the intent of causing violence.”
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also condemned the violence, cautioning that anyone engaging in criminal acts will “face the full force of the law.”
Starmer’s comments followed appeals from the antifascist organization Hope Not Hate and several MPs calling on the government to address the rising far-right mobilization. Hope Not Hate referred to the protest as “extremely troubling.”
“While attendance was significantly less than the millions claimed by Lennon and his supporters, it appears to be the largest far-right demonstration ever seen in Britain,” the group stated.
“For anyone concerned about the escalating far-right activism and the normalization of fiercely anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiment, it could signify a troubling trend ahead,” they added.
