Antifascist marketing campaign group Hope Not Hate condemns speeches at Saturday’s rally in London as ‘extraordinarily disturbing’.
Britain will “by no means give up” to far-right protesters who use the nationwide flag as cowl for violence and intimidation, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer says after violent scenes at one of many nation’s largest far-right demonstrations in many years.
Greater than 110,000 folks marched via central London on Saturday in a protest in opposition to immigration led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose actual identify is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Some attending the Unite the Kingdom rally clashed with police. Twenty-six officers had been injured, and at the least 24 folks had been arrested, in accordance with the Metropolitan Police.
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In his first public feedback because the rally, Starmer stated on Sunday that peaceable protest was a elementary worth in Britain, however he condemned assaults on cops and intimidation in opposition to marginalised communities.
“Folks have a proper to peaceable protest. It’s core to our nation’s values,” he stated. “However we is not going to stand for assaults on cops doing their job or for folks feeling intimidated on our streets due to their background or the color of their pores and skin.”
He added: “Britain is a nation proudly constructed on tolerance, variety and respect. Our flag represents our numerous nation, and we are going to by no means give up it to those who use it as a logo of violence, worry and division.”
Islam is the ‘actual enemy’
Saturday’s protest was marked by nationalist symbols, scuffles and inflammatory speeches. Footage confirmed police on horseback pelted with bottles whereas baton costs had been used to push again Robinson supporters and permit about 5,000 counterdemonstrators to depart the Whitehall space of central London safely.
A stage was erected for speeches from a lineup of far-right figures. Main the cost was Robinson, who informed the gang: “It’s not simply Britain that’s being invaded. It’s not simply Britain that’s being raped.”
“Each single Western nation faces the identical downside: An orchestrated, organised invasion and alternative of European residents is occurring,” he added.
Worldwide audio system included French politician Eric Zemmour, who echoed the views put ahead by Robinson. “We’re each topic to the identical means of the good alternative of our European peoples by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim tradition,” he stated, citing the good alternative conspiracy idea that white Europeans are being intentionally changed by folks from different ethnicities.
“You and we’re being colonised by our former colonies,” Zemmour added.
Equally, Belgian far-right politician Filip Dewinter declared: “It needs to be clear that Islam is our actual enemy. We’ve got to eliminate Islam. Islam doesn’t belong in Europe, and Islam doesn’t belong within the UK.”
Different audio system included Danish Folks’s Celebration chief Morten Messerschmidt, German Various for Germany MP Petr Bystron and Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski.
Tesla CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk additionally made an look by videolink, telling protesters the UK wanted an “pressing change in authorities” and warning them to “struggle again” or “die”.
Police, authorities and antifascist teams condemn violence
The rally got here amid a wave of far-right violence in latest months, together with arson assaults on inns housing asylum seekers.
Consultants stated these incidents, fuelled by conspiracy theories, xenophobia and on-line disinformation, have intensified considerations over the rise of far-right actions throughout Britain and Europe, which regularly spill over into rioting and violence.
Antiracism demonstrators show placards throughout a Stand As much as Racism protest in London on September 13, 2025 (Tayfun Salci/EPA)
Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Matt Twist stated the violence directed at officers was “wholly unacceptable”. He added: “There is no such thing as a doubt that many got here to train their lawful proper to protest, however there have been many who got here intent on violence.”
British Dwelling Secretary Shabana Mahmood additionally condemned the violence, warning that anybody collaborating in legal acts would “face the total drive of the legislation”.
Starmer’s remarks adopted calls from the antifascist group Hope Not Hate and several other MPs urging the federal government to behave in opposition to the surge in far-right mobilisation. Hope Not Hate described the protest as “extraordinarily disturbing”.
“Whereas the turnout was considerably smaller than the hundreds of thousands claimed by Lennon and his supporters, it seems to be the biggest far-right demonstration ever seen in Britain,” the group stated.
“For anybody nervous concerning the rise of far-right activism and the normalisation of viciously anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiment, it might be an indication of darkish instances to return,” it added.
