Crowds gathered in central London for a protest march led by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. Approximately 1,000 police officers were deployed to maintain peace as counter-demonstrations were expected on Saturday.
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Protesters filled the Strand, wearing clothing and holding flags representing the Union, England, Scotland, and Wales. Chants of “Rule Britannia,” “We want our country back,” and Robinson’s name echoed through the crowd. Some demonstrators held placards stating, “Not far right, just right.” Several Israeli flags were also seen.
In a post shared on social media, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, claimed the protest would be “the biggest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen.” The march started at the Royal Courts of Justice and moved to a rally in Trafalgar Square.
A counter-protest, organized by Stand Up To Racism and Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project, also took place. Supported by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), 11 trade unions, and groups like Stop the War Coalition, the rally moved from Russell Square to Whitehall.
Police used powers under the Public Order Act to keep the groups apart and prevent serious disruptions. Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, overseeing the operation, emphasized the police's role in ensuring peaceful and lawful protests. He warned that officers would “intervene decisively” against any breaches of protest conditions, criminal activities, or hate speech.
“Our first priority is to keep the peace,” Wingrove said, urging the public to speak to officers if they felt unsafe or needed to report incidents.
Additionally, a Trans Pride event, including a march from Langham Place to Wellington Arch, also took place on Saturday. No preemptive conditions were imposed on the Trans Pride event by the police.
