By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
UK PM Condemns Racial Intimidation After Far-Right Rally Violence
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed that Britain will never allow its streets to become places of racial intimidation, following violent clashes at a far-right protest in central London that left police officers injured and dozens arrested.
The demonstration, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, drew what police estimated to be about 150,000 people on Saturday. Marchers carried Union Jacks, crosses, and nationalist banners as they rallied near Downing Street.
What began as a “free speech” march soon descended into violence as some protesters confronted police and tried to push into restricted areas near a counter-demonstration.
According to the Metropolitan Police, 26 officers were hurt in the confrontations—four of them seriously—after being struck with bottles, flares, and other objects.
Twenty-four people were arrested at the scene for offences ranging from assault and criminal damage to possession of weapons. Police have since launched a post-event investigation to identify more suspects.
In a statement posted on X, Starmer condemned the attacks on law enforcement and the intimidation felt by minority communities.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values. But we will not stand for assaults on police officers or for people feeling unsafe because of their background or the colour of their skin,” he said.
The Labour leader also rejected attempts to appropriate national symbols for extremist purposes. “Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity, and respect,” Starmer said.
“Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those who use it as a symbol of violence, fear, and division.”
Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally featured speakers from Europe and North America. Among them was billionaire Elon Musk, who addressed the crowd by video, urging the dissolution of Britain’s parliament and warning of “violence to come.”
Campaign group Hope Not Hate described the gathering as Britain’s largest ever far-right protest. It said the scale of the crowd and the extremity of the speeches—some of which called for banning non-Christian religions from public spaces and promoting mass deportations—were “unprecedented” and should serve as a warning about the rise of extremist politics.
Police said further arrests are likely in the days ahead as officers review evidence of the disorder. Meanwhile, anti-racism organisations have urged the government to respond firmly, warning that far-right mobilisation poses a growing threat to social cohesion.
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