Tens of thousands gathered in London for Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom march and a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally, as police mounted a £4.5 million operation to prevent clashes between rival groups.
At least 31 people were arrested across both demonstrations for a “variety of offences”, the Metropolitan Police said, adding that while the number “may seem high, to this point both protests have proceeded largely without significant incident”.
More than 4,000 police officers were deployed to the capital with 660 being drafted in from forces outside the Met to prepare for an “unprecedented” security operation. Armoured vehicles, police horses, dogs, drones and helicopters were also on the scene.
It’s estimated more than 80,000 people attended the marches and thousands more travelled to the capital for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, making it one of the busiest policing days in years.
At the Tommy Robinson protest, herds of demonstrators set off from Kingsway decked in Union flags, while others carried the flag of opposition to the Iranian regime.
There were loud chants of “we want Starmer out” and “Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Robinson” as protesters gathered on Kingsway in central London ahead of the march.
Many protesters were wearing “Make England Great Again (Mega)” red hats and others draped themselves in Union flags.
Some protesters at the front of the march were carrying wooden crosses and chanted “Christ is king”.
Mr Robinson called for crowds gathered for his protest to locally get involved in politics when he spoke on stage.
He said: “Are you ready for the battle of Britain? 2029 we have an election. We’re not asking anyone to go out and fight, but this is the most important moment in our generation.
“If we don’t send a message in our next election, if you don’t register to vote, if you don’t get involved, if you don’t become activists, we are going to lose our country forever.”
Other speakers included former Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins, television personality Ant Middleton, former actor Laurence Fox and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen.
Organisers estimated at least a quarter of a million people walked through central London to mark “Nakba Day”. Many carried placards bearing slogans such as “Nurses Not Nukes”, “Free Palestine”, and “Stop Arming Israel”. However, police previously estimated 30,000 would attend.
MP Diane Abbott told demonstrators that those gathered faced a “common enemy” in the “far right”.
Meanwhile former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told supporters that Westminster needs a change in “policy” not “personalities”.
The Your Party co-founder, who was greeted by loud cheers from the crowd, said: “Whatever happens to Keir Starmer, I don’t know if he’s going to survive the coup, he should know about coups. I know about coups. I know what goes on.
“But I would say that if there’s to be a change, it’s got to be a change of policy, not the personalities.”
He added: “To those in Reform and the far right that do so much to attack us all and attack our communities, your hatred can succeed in dividing people, but your hatred will not build one council house, will not improve one hospital, will not teach one child, will not end somebody’s homeless life on the streets of London.
“The only thing that can change that is a change of economic, social, and international policy – that’s what brings us together.”
Ahead of the demonstrations, Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the policing operation would cost the force £4.5m, with £1.7 million being used on bringing in officers from other forces to boost numbers.
