More than 100,000 people took to the streets of London on Saturday in one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in Britain’s recent history, clashing with police in a show of anti-immigration anger that underscored the deepening political divide over migration.
A massive turnout in central London
The Metropolitan Police estimated the “Unite the Kingdom” march drew around 110,000 participants, far surpassing expectations. Organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, the demonstration spilled beyond the official route on Whitehall, the street that runs through the heart of the UK government. Police admitted they were caught off guard by the scale, calling the event “too big to fit into Whitehall.”
Alongside the march, roughly 5,000 people joined a “Stand Up to Racism” counter-protest. Authorities deployed more than 1,600 officers, including 500 drafted from outside London, to keep the two groups apart while also covering football matches and major concerts across the city.
Violence and arrests
The demonstration turned volatile in parts of the capital as police attempted to prevent marchers from veering off the route. Officers reported “unacceptable violence,” including punches, kicks, and bottles and flares hurled in their direction. Nine arrests had been made by Saturday evening, with police warning that “many more” were likely to follow as investigations continue.
Flags, slogans, and rhetoric
Protesters carried the Union Jack, the red-and-white St. George’s Cross of England, and even American and Israeli flags. Some donned “Make America Great Again” caps linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Placards read “send them home,” while chants targeted Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pledged a tougher but more “humane” approach to migration. Children were also spotted among the marchers.
“This is the spark of a cultural revolution in Great Britain, this is our moment,” Robinson told the crowd, describing the event as “a tidal wave of patriotism.” Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has a long history of criminal convictions but continues to brand himself as a citizen journalist exposing state misconduct.
Elon Musk’s virtual intervention
Adding a dramatic international twist, U.S. billionaire Elon Musk appeared via video link, urging a change of government in Britain. Musk, who has recently injected himself into UK political debates, argued that Britons were “afraid to exercise free speech” and praised the march as a fight for national sovereignty.
Divided voices
Supporters framed the rally as a stand against illegal migration and a demand to restore free speech. “We want our country back, we want our free speech back on track,” said Sandra Mitchell, one demonstrator. “They need to stop illegal migration into this country. We believe in Tommy.”
But counter-protesters accused the march of stoking hate. “The idea of hate is dividing us and I think the more that we welcome people the stronger we are as a country,” said Ben Hetchin, a teacher attending the Stand Up to Racism gathering.
Immigration at the center of British politics
Immigration has emerged as the defining political fault line in Britain, overshadowing economic woes. More than 28,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, a record pace. Streets across England have been festooned with St. George’s flags—supporters describe it as patriotic pride, while anti-racism activists see it as coded hostility toward migrants.
Saturday’s march signaled how sharply the issue has polarized the nation, with Robinson’s movement energizing the far-right base while mainstream parties struggle to control the debate. Reform UK, the anti-immigrant party leading recent opinion polls, has kept its distance from Robinson despite overlapping themes, wary of his toxic brand.
As police tally arrests and investigate the violence, Britain is left confronting a summer of intensifying protest politics that shows no signs of cooling.
