London protests latest: Musk’s speech at Tommy Robinson march denounced as ‘disgusting’ – UK Times

Tommy Robinson is an angry man: angry at Islam and migration into Britain, angry at the BBC and “mainstream media”. He claims to be angry over antisemitism. He’s often angry about the way police have treated him.

He’s confessed to wasting money on alcohol and partying while receiving thousands of pounds in donations; he’s been in court and in prison – and yet he has huge numbers of devoted followers online.

Business secretary Peter Kyle has said the turnout at Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom protest is a “klaxon call” for those in power to redouble efforts to address immigration and other concerns that the public have.

He told the BBC’s Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg: “What worries me most is the divisions in our society and other societies and other democratic societies … it’s not even the left and the right at the moment.

“There are communities that are being driven further apart, and there are figures such as Tommy Robinson that is able to touch into a sense of disquiet and grievance in the community in our society.

“A lot of it was goes back to its roots in the financial crisis and the impact that had on communities around the country, and we haven’t been able to bring our communities back together again since.

“So I think these are moments that are klaxon calls to us in public life to redouble our efforts to address the big concerns that people right across our country have, and immigration is a big concern.

“It’s a concern that I and the Prime Minister share very deeply, and we are acting on and other concerns as well.

“But we have to do it in a way that can start to bring communities back together again. That is something that we have not solved. It is something we are striving for.”

Ed Davey has said he has written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage “urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk’s dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday” and to consider sanctions against the tech billionaire.

He added: “As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.”

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed 24 people were arrested during the “Unite the Kingdom” protest in London on Saturday.

The force said the previous figure of 26 arrests included two duplicate records.

Of those arrested, three were women and 21 were men.

The oldest person arrested was 58 and the youngest was 19.

The Met said the offences people were arrested for included common assault, actual bodily harm, affray, criminal damage, public order offences, assault on an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon, drunk and disorderly behaviour, violent disorder, breach of Public Order Act conditions and obstruction.

A number of people were arrested on suspicion of more than one offence.

The force added: “A post-event investigation is under way, with officers working to identify other people involved in disorder with a view to making further arrests in the coming days and weeks.”

Sir Keir Starmer says the country should never surrender its flag to become symbol of “violence, fear and division” following a huge protest organised by Tommy Robinson, as the backlash grows over Elon Musk’s remarks at the rally.

The demonstration, organised under the banner “Unite the Kingdom”, saw Whitehall filled with union flags and St George’s flags as the tens of thousands of protesters listened to speakers, including Mr Musk, who appeared on screens through a video link.

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The Met has said it is also investigating a video circulated on social media which appeared to show a protester saying: “Someone needs to shoot Keir Starmer.”

“We’re aware of a video circulating on social media from the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest on Saturday 13 September in central London,” a spokesperson said.

“Officers are investigating and inquiries are ongoing to identify a man.

“No arrests have been made so far.”

Sir Keir Starmer has rejected the country’s flag being used as a symbol of “violence, fear and division” following Saturday’s “Unite The Kingdom” protest led by Tommy Robinson.

He also stated the Government “will not stand” for assaults on police officers, after 26 were injured, four seriously, at the far-right activist’s London event.

The demonstration attracted between 110,000 and 150,000 people, significantly exceeding organiser estimates, with around 5,000 “anti-racism” campaigners mounting a counter-protest.

An under siege Keir Starmer is facing a showdown with Donald Trump over “free speech” in the UK which could derail crucial talks during the US president’s state visit.

The issue could derail hopes by the UK government to get a deal to remove steel tariffs and will take up time they want to use to discuss the increasingly complex picture on the international stage with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports: