Central London on Saturday witnessed one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in recent UK history, with over 100,000 protesters marching under the banner of the anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson. The police also reported that several officers were assaulted during the demonstrations.
The event, known as the "Unite the Kingdom" march, was reported by police to have drawn approximately 110,000 participants.
But aerial visuals of the protest showed a few kilometres of Central London roads choked with protestors, suggesting the numbers could have been underplayed by the authorities.
Tommy Robinson, the leader of the simmering anti-immigration movement, claimed millions had gathered. In a tweet, he characterised this as the biggest outpouring of his supporters and dissed the authorities for trying to make it look like any other routine protest.
“THERE ARE MILLIONS OUT FOR THE UNITE THE KINGDOM FREE SPEECH FESTIVAL TODAY!!!! Any mainstream media who prints anything otherwise are LYING,” he posted along with a video from the protest.
Robinson’s rally took place alongside a "Stand Up to Racism" counter-protest, which attracted around 5,000 people. The Metropolitan Police had to intervene multiple times throughout the day to prevent clashes, including stopping "Unite the Kingdom" demonstrators from entering “sterile areas” set up between the two protests, breaching police cordons, or approaching opposing groups.
Police reported that multiple officers were assaulted amid the ongoing demonstrations. In response, reinforcements were brought in, with officers donning protective gear and backed by mounted units to help restore order. The update was released by the force while the march was still underway.
The march symbolised the culmination of a highly charged summer in the UK, marked by protests outside hotels housing migrants. Participants waved both the Union flag and the red and white St George's Cross, with some also displaying American and Israeli flags.
A number of protesters wore “Make America Great Again” hats associated with US President Donald Trump. Slogans critical of Prime Minister Keir Starmer were chanted and placards with messages such as "send them home" were visible. Some attendees even brought children to the event.
Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, positioned the "Unite the Kingdom" march as a celebration of free speech. The rally also saw activists mourn the recent death of American conservative figure Charlie Kirk, who was shot earlier this week.
In a message on X, Robinson said, "Hundreds of thousands already pack the streets of central London as we Unite as one for our freedoms."
Robinson describes himself as a journalist who exposes government wrongdoing and counts influential figures like US billionaire Elon Musk among his supporters. Despite his prominence, Reform UK, Britain’s largest anti-immigrant political party and a recent front-runner in polls, has maintained a distance from Robinson due to his criminal convictions.
At the rally, supporter Sandra Mitchell expressed the mood of many attendees: "We want our country back, we want our free speech back on track. They need to stop illegal migration into this country. We believe in Tommy."
The Metropolitan Police deployed over 1,600 officers across London on Saturday, including 500 officers brought in from other forces. Alongside managing the two demonstrations, the police were also tasked with overseeing various high-profile football matches and concerts throughout the city.
Commander Clair Haynes, leading the policing efforts, commented, "We will approach them as we do any other protests, policing without fear or favour, ensuring people can exercise their lawful rights but being robust in dealing with incidents or offences should they occur."
Haynes acknowledged a history of “anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority” at previous protests but said that London’s diverse communities should not feel compelled to remain indoors due to fear.
Just the previous Saturday, police arrested nearly 900 people at a demonstration against the government’s ban on the protest group Palestine Action.
Immigration continues to dominate British political discourse, overshadowing concerns about the country’s struggling economy. The UK has seen a record number of asylum claims, with over 28,000 migrants arriving in small boats across the English Channel so far this year.
The presence of red and white English flags has surged across streets and been painted on roads nationwide. While supporters frame this as an organic display of national pride, anti-racism campaigners argue the flags represent a message of hostility toward foreigners.
Saturday’s march and the surrounding tensions highlight the deepening divisions within Britain as debates over immigration, national identity, and free speech intensify.
