Tensions flared in London after a reported 150,000 people marched in a “free speech” rally dubbed “Unite the Kingdom” organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The controversial event has come in for criticism, not only for the anti-immigrant sentiment on show in the UK, but also the violence.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk joined in from across the pond via videolink, telling protesters to “fight back” or “die’. Furthermore, Musk decried the “massive uncontrolled migration” and called for a “change of government” in the UK.
Soon after things escalated as a small group of Robinson’s supporters clashed with police officers. This after the police tried to separate them from about 5,000 counterprotesters organised by Stand Up To Racism.
26 police officers were injured - four of whom were seriously hurt - including broken teeth, a concussion, a possible broken nose and a spinal injury, according to the Metropolitan Police. The Metropolitan Police has arrested 24 individuals for a range of offences in what it described as “wholly unacceptable” violence and added that the arrests were “just the start”.
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle Kyle criticised Musk’s comments calling them “slightly incomprehensible” and “totally inappropriate”.
Meanwhile Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, criticised politicians for “parroting” his ideas. More importantly, he claimed UK courts had decided the rights of undocumented migrants superseded those of the “local community”. Robinson was said to be referring to the Court of Appeal decision last month that overturned an injunction blocking asylum seekers being housed at The Bell Hotel in Essex.
For context, Robinson is one of the UK’s most vocal far-right activists with a highly chequered past. As founder of the technically defunct English Defence League (EDL), he has on multiple occasions stoked the flames of Islamophobia and anti-migration sentiment.
He was released from prison earlier this year after being jailed in October 2024 for ignoring an order not to repeat false claims about a Syrian refugee, who had successfully sued him for libel. Furthermore, he has been convicted of stalking, and is said to have spent £100,000 gambling before declaring bankruptcy.
