Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that Britain will not allow people to feel intimidated “because of their background or the colour of their skin,” following violent clashes at a massive far-right rally in London over the weekend.
In his first remarks since the protest, which took place on Saturday and was organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, Starmer also strongly criticized attacks on police officers who tried to maintain order. Authorities estimate that up to 150,000 people attended the gathering, making it one of the largest far-right demonstrations in the nation’s history.
The Metropolitan Police reported that 26 officers were injured in the confrontations, four of them seriously. So far, 24 arrests have been made, with the force pledging that more will follow as investigations continue. The alleged offenses range from assault and criminal damage to possession of offensive weapons, with suspects aged between 19 and 58.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” Starmer said in a statement posted on X. “But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin.”
The prime minister, who himself was a target of criticism at the rally, stressed Britain’s identity as a country of inclusion. “Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country, and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear, and division,” he said.
The protest, branded “Unite the Kingdom,” saw Robinson’s supporters march over Westminster Bridge before assembling near Downing Street. The gathering featured speeches from far-right figures across Europe and North America, including a video address from billionaire Elon Musk. In his remarks, Musk urged the dissolution of Britain’s parliament and warned the crowd that “violence is coming to you,” declaring, “You either fight back or you die.”
According to police, violence erupted when some demonstrators attempted to push through barriers into areas where counter-protesters from the Stand Up to Racism march had gathered. Officers were “assaulted with kicks and punches,” while “bottles, flares and other projectiles were thrown,” the Met confirmed.
Anti-racism advocacy group Hope Not Hate described the demonstration as “unprecedented,” calling it the largest far-right protest in Britain’s history. The organization warned of the dangerous rhetoric being normalized, pointing out that speakers called for the banning of non-Christian religions, mass deportation of migrants, and repeated claims of a supposed “invasion” and “replacement” of Britain’s population.
“For anyone worried about the rise of far-right activism and the normalisation of viciously anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiment, it could be a sign of dark times to come,” the charity cautioned.
The Metropolitan Police said a post-event investigation is already underway to identify other individuals involved in the violence, vowing to make more arrests in the coming weeks.
What You Should Know
Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally drew around 150,000 people, marking Britain’s largest far-right protest.
Violence left 26 police officers injured and 24 people arrested, while Elon Musk controversially addressed the crowd. Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed Britain will not yield to hate, emphasizing values of diversity, tolerance, and respect.
