Protesters at the Unite the Kingdom rally voiced particular anger over Sir Keir Starmer who earlier accused organisers of ‘peddling hatred and division’.
Some 50,000 were expected to attend the Unite the Kingdom protest in central London (Image: Getty)
For a protest called ‘Unite the Kingdom’, this latest rally organised by Tommy Robinson ironically served as a reminder of just how divided our country has become. Tens of thousands descended on central London for the protest in what is another example of the growing discontent that has spread across the country.
This was the first time I have reported from a protest organised by Robinson, the far-right activist who founded the English Defence League (EDL) back in 2009. There are many stereotypes around his supporters – and some of these I observed at the rally – but, as I stood on Kingsway looking to speak to those taking part, I was surprised by the number of people who did not fit into those preconceptions. This included a 43-year-old Polish man, who has been living in the UK for more than 20 years, and his 36-year-old partner from Ghana.
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, during the protest (Image: Getty)
Robinson said the demonstration was about “national unity, free speech and Christian values”.
Many protesters who spoke to me mentioned free speech as a particularly big issue, as well as illegal immigration and grooming gangs.
But above all, there was a real palpable sense of anger about Sir Keir Starmer who continues to cling onto his premiership after Labour’s disastrous local election results.
Throughout the protest there was an almost constant hum of “Keir Starmer is a w*****” chants — a sentiment also replicated on some t-shirts, placards and flags.
The Unite the Kingdom march went from Kingsway to Parliament Square (Image: Getty)
Shouts of “we want Starmer out” could also be heard.
In many ways, it felt as if more protesters were actually there to take a stand against Sir Keir and his current government, rather than the message being sent by Robinson and the speakers who addressed the crowds in Parliament Square.
Ahead of the march, Sir Keir said organisers were “peddling hatred and division”.
All of those I spoke to at the march disagreed, but there will likely be many across the country who agree with the PM’s remarks.
The fact some 4,000 police officers were on the streets of the capital as part of efforts to prevent clashes between the Unite the Kingdom protest and a nearby pro-Palestinian demonstration underscore how simmering tensions are approaching a boil, and how this country has never been so polarised.
A total of 31 arrests have been made at the Unite the Kingdom and Nakba Day protests in London as of about 4.30pm on Saturday, police said.