Around 100,00 people converged on central London on Saturday for what organisers dubbed the “Unite the Kingdom” rally – one of the largest far-right demonstrations Britain has seen in years.

The march, fronted by far-right Islamophobe Tommy Robinson, quickly descended into violence, anti-Muslim and xenophobic rhetoric, with Metropolitan Police reporting at least 26 officers injured and 25 arrests.

Marchers were bused in from across Britain and beyond for what was billed as a ‘festival of free speech’, but observers say it instead amplified racist conspiracy theories and peddled Islamophobic hate speech.

1. Islamophobia and immigration took centre stage

From the stage, far-right politicians and agitators pushed familiar conspiracy theories about immigration and Islam.

French far-right figure Éric Zemmour told protesters they were victims of ‘the great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture’.

Belgian equivalent Filip Dewinter went further, declaring to cheers that ‘we must end Islam in Europe’.

Other speakers called for re-migration, while Tommy Robinson led chants of ‘send them home’ – rhetoric that would have unsettled even some within his own audience, especially the smattering of minorities.

Robinson also invited Brian Tamaki, a controversial Christian preacher from New Zealand, who not only targeted Muslims – including urging the ripping down of Palestinian flags – but also directed attacks at other religions and humanists.

“Islam, Hinduism, Baha’i, Buddhism and whatever else you’re into are all false religions,” said the cult leader. “We got to get everything out that does not receive Jesus Christ,” he added.

2. A rally for Britain… but a platform for foreign voices and the elite

Far from being a rally for Britain by Brits, the event was an ‘Avengers Assemble’ of far-right figures from abroad.

Mainstream UK politicians were absent; instead, foreign extremists dominated the stage.

A protest framed around immigration, western values and challenging the elite invited Elon Musk – the world’s richest man and a South African-born immigrant to the United States – to address the crowd.

He appeared via video link to claim that Britain was being “taken over by foreigners” – a message sharply at odds with his own biography.

Observers online noted that the line-up reflected not British pride but the movement’s growing dependence on transnational far-right networks.

3. Christian iconography and imported American culture wars

Some in the crowd carried wooden crosses and chanted “Christ is king”, with speeches steeped in overtly Christian nationalist imagery.

Critics say this rhetoric is an import from the United States and perhaps alludes to the source of funding, exposing a movement that claims to defend British culture while in reality borrowing deferentially from American far-right politics.

Robinson, who has described himself as non-religious in the past, appeared comfortable wrapping his campaign in this symbolism.

Ahead of the march, London church leaders warned that its organisers were promoting “division and racial intolerance”.

4. Violence and arrests overshadowed the demonstration

The march, promoted as a “festival of free speech”, ended in violent clashes with police.

Officers reported being punched, kicked, and hit with bottles as they tried to separate Robinson’s supporters from counter-protesters. The Met said its officers faced “unacceptable violence” and reinforcements equipped with helmets and riot shields were deployed to maintain control.

Such confrontations have become a hallmark of Robinson-linked rallies.

The Metropolitan police said at least 25 people were arrested and 26 officers were injured, including four who were seriously hurt. 

Marchers were arrested for a range of offences, including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage.

5. The numbers – big, but not unprecedented

Police estimated the march drew around 100,000 supporters, making it one of the largest far-right demonstrations in Britain in recent years.

Despite the algorithmic boost on X from Elon Musk, the turnout was still modest compared with other mass mobilisations in the capital – far smaller than the pro-Palestinian march of November 2023, which drew nearly 300,000, and dwarfed by the million-strong march in 2003 against the Iraq war.

An estimated 5,000 counter-demonstrators – including trade unions and anti-fascist groups – rallied elsewhere in central London.