Tommy Robinson marched with ‘massive’ crowds of supporters through central London today as counter-protestors mobilised in opposition in Whitehall.
Scotland Yard assured thousands of police officers had been drawn in to police the protests through the capital, with as many as 400 from forces outside London.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon, set off from Victoria around 1pm with a large group toting Union Flags and the Flag of St George, with views to march on Parliament Square. A livestream quickly amassed more than 100,000 views on Twitter/X.
Police warned that they have identified groups within the protests who have a history of violent disorder – including those with football banning orders, people associated with ‘hooligan groups’ and people formerly involved with anti-lockdown protests.
They also say that many of the crowd are intoxicated with hours left to go with the protest.
Mr Robinson posted a video on X in which he called for people to join him on the march. ‘We’re sick of two-tiered policing and justice system in our country,’ he wrote. ‘We demand the resignation of corrupt met commissioner Mark Rowley.’
A static counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism, is expected to take place in Whitehall from midday in response to Robinson’s march, and police note the city is likely to be busy with fan events linked to the Champions League Final tonight.
Stand Up To Racism posted on its website saying they will ‘stand together against attempts to divide us’.
The protest led by ‘Tommy Robinson’ appeared to be calling for Sir Mark Rowley’s resignation
Tommy Robinson (centre), whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, leads the protest march through London to Parliament Square
Flags wave outside of Victoria Station on Saturday as people prepare to march on the capital
People take part in a protest march through London, organised by Tommy Robinson, real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon
Groups from across the UK linked to football disorder are expected to attend the event the Metropolitan Police said
Protester with a small England flag sticker on his forehead joins the crowd as it marches through the capital
Protesters arrive in London for a protest march, expected to be heavily policed by the Met
Members of the public gather in Whitehall to protest against Tommy Robinson and The English Defence League
Ahead of the protest beginning in Victoria, football chants could be heard coming from the crowd.
Some also tried to start up pro-Palestinian chants of ‘To the river’ chants and at least one Israel flag could be seen.
Speaking about the protests, the Met Police said: ‘The protest is now in Parliament Square where speeches are taking place and a film will be shown.
‘Officers have identified individuals within the crowd who have a history of being involved in violent disorder.
‘A number have football banning orders and are associated with hooligan groups from London and across the UK.
‘There is also an element of the crowd previously well known for involvement in anti-lockdown protests during the pandemic and associated disorder.
‘While there have not been any offences so far, a number of people in the crowd are intoxicated. The event still has a number of hours left to go.
‘Our policing approach is informed by this and other intelligence and is continually reviewed throughout the day.’
The force have assured officers will be deployed ‘in significant numbers’ to ensure those in Parliament Square and those in Whitehall do not come together.
Tommy Robinson pictured at the protest in London calling for the resignation of Mark Rowley
Tommy Robinson (centre), whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, leads a protest march through London to Parliament Square
Groups from across the UK linked to football disorder are expected to attend the event the Metropolitan Police said
Stand Up For Racism (SUTR) and other anti-fascist groups staged a counter-protest against Tommy Robinson
Counter protestors lined the route with signs declaring their intention to ‘Stop the Far Right’
More than 2,000 police officers will be on duty on Saturday, policing the protests as well as the Champions League Final at Wembley and related fan events, the force said.
TfL added that the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines were likely to be particularly busy as a result, forecasting possible station closures.
Some members of the crowd set off smoke flares and air horns as they marched down Millbank.
At Parliament Square, Robinson took to the stage where he was applauded and cheered by supporters.
Decked out in Stone Island, the 41-year-old was joined by actor Laurence Fox who told the crowd: ‘I am proud to be British. The most important freedom of all is the freedom to speak our minds. We must protect our right to speak above all other rights.’
He also described the police as ‘two-tier’ and ‘corrupt’ who arrested protesters carrying UK flags.
‘British lives with British values matter too’, he said.
To huge cheers he said ‘This is our country’.
A woman then sang a version of Emeli Sande’s Read All About It, which afterwards Robinson said: ‘That’s beautiful, mate.’
A young man sets off a red flare as he joins the far-right protest in central London
Laurence Fox speaks during a protest march at Parliament Square, organised by Tommy Robinson
Protesters wave St George’s flags outside Parliament as they march in support of Tommy Robinson
British right-wing Youtuber and former UKIP member Carl Benjamin also gave a speech, telling the crowd: ‘We have real problems, none of the mainstream parties are going to solve these problems we are going to have to do it ourselves.
‘But we have to remember the conduct of one depends the fate of all. You have to remember your dignity as an English man and woman is on the line and worthy of the respect of your ancestors. Those glorious ancestors of ours are watching and they want us to win and we have to win for our children.
‘We need to take a wholesome message to the British people – we are going to do this.’
Robinson said over 360,000 people were watching a live stream of the rally adding: ‘And the mainstream media thought we were finished.’
Former UKIP leader Gerard Batten also briefly addressed the crowd.
T/Commander Louise Puddefoot, leading the operation this weekend, said: ‘Officers have been in discussion with the organisers of both protests in recent weeks.
‘Our priority is to ensure those exercising their right to lawful protest, both in the main march and as part of the counter protest, can do so safely.
‘Officers will police these demonstrations, as they always do, without fear or favour – keeping participants and the wider public safe, and responding decisively to criminal offences and any attempt to cause serious disruption.
‘While we are grateful to the main organiser of the protest for comments he has made publicly discouraging violence on Saturday, we do have concerns about the number of those believed to be attending who have links to football disorder.
The streets were filled with protestors joining the march decked out in Union Jacks
‘When these groups have come together at previous protests we have regrettably seen violence directed at officers. This precedent unavoidably plays a part in shaping the policing approach, including the number and nature of resources allocated to police this particular protest.’
Conditions remain in place for the procession to move along the pre-agreed route from Vauxhall Bridge Road onto Millbank, through Abingdon Square and onto Parliament Square.
‘They’re not to enter the borough of Westminster, not to go onto any bridge over the Thames and not to go onto the pavement. This is to prevent the serious disruption they have said they want to achieve,’ the Met wrote on Twitter/X.
At the march on Saturday, Robinson’s group displayed banners calling for the removal of Met Commissioner Mark Rowley from his role.
A statement on an affiliated petition claimed to oppose biased policing practices’ while ‘demanding accountability from those in power’.
A third protest, ‘likely smaller in size and unrelated to the above events’ is also expected to take place on Saturday afternoon, organised by Youth Demand, a group protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
They have said in public statements that they intend to occupy roads and bridges.
T/Commander Puddefoot said: ‘This group has made no secret of their intentions. They have indicated that they will go beyond what can be considered lawful protest, instead trying to cause serious disruption to communities by blocking roads and the bridges that are essential for keeping traffic moving across London.’
‘Regrettably they have not engaged with us ahead of this event,’ a statement continued.
‘Protest organisers do have an obligation to inform the police of their intent to hold a protest, allowing us to plan accordingly, but Youth Demand are one of those groups who don’t engage.
‘If they did we would reiterate to them that we will of course respect their right to protest, but not to cause serious disruption.
‘Officers will be deployed to respond to any action taken. They will use all the relevant powers available to them, including the imposition of conditions.’
