Following the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ (UTK) march on September 13, far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted on X that more than three million people had descended on the capital to join his ‘free speech’ protest.
However, the Metropolitan Police debunked this claim and confirmed that attendance was at most 150,000.
Despite this, the rally still represented a significant increase from previous UTK marches, with a similar march in October 2024 attracting just 25,000 supporters.
Robinson had organised the march under the banner of being the ‘UK’s biggest free speech festival’.
However, the event sparked concerns amongst campaign groups over anti-immigration rhetoric often used by Robinson and his supporters, particularly against minority groups.
In response, Stand Up to Racism (SUTR), supported by various charities and trade unions, organised a counter-protest in Whitehall, with their primary concern being that Robinson’s event could further deepen social division and disrupt community cohesion.
Jeremy Guise, a campaigner from the south Birmingham branch of SUTR, said: “We are unhappy with the fact that Tommy Robinson is in London with large amounts of his supporters sowing divisions throughout our country.”
Guise also criticised the Raise the Colours movement, a trend where individuals publicly display the Union Jack on streets and buildings.
Having witnessed its conception in south Birmingham, he said: “[The movement] has nothing to do with patriotism, but more a territorial marking saying we belong here and other people don’t.”
Another counter-protester, Jason, who chose to only give his first name, said: “It must be an awful time for some people that look different.
“Britain’s a very strange, fantastic melting pot of cultures and we’ve got to keep that alive. It’s a great place.”
Among those attending the UTK rally, many people we talked to wished to remained anonymous and off camera, but some were open to speaking.
John, a 55-year-old Londoner, said: “I’m here to unite, and just get the country back to the way it used to be in the 40s.
“I’m hoping the government will take notice of what’s going on to our country and bring back the Churchill spirit, the community spirit, and everyone just be happy and love each other.”
When questioned on whether he thought the march was hateful he said: “If there’s a million people here, three quarters of them won’t be racist.”
Other protesters at Robinson’s rally expressed varying reasons for attending, ranging from concerns about immigration, the cost of living crisis, and dissatisfaction with the current Labour government.
The Met Police had brought in an extra 500 police officers from across the country to bring up the total number of deployed officers to 1000 on the day.
And despite calls from organiser Robinson to keep protests non-violent, so far police have reported that 26 officers were injured in scenes of ‘unacceptable violence’.
Those arrested have been charged with an array of offences, including assault, criminal damage, aggravated trespassing, and breaches of public order legislature.
Police are appealing to the public to identify a further 28 people in connection with similar offences.
Featured image credit: Bethan King
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