2h ago
15.31 BST
Summary
of the day so far
Here is a
summary of the day so far:
According
to the Metropolitan police, about 110,000 people are in attendance in central
London for a ‘unite our kingdom’ march featuring far-right activist Tommy
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Crowds of people waving St
George’s and union jack flags made their way from near Waterloo Bridge to
Whitehall.
A smaller
counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism, with a march led by a Women Against the
Far Right contingent including the MPs Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott, saw
supporters gather in Russell Square before heading towards Whitehall. The Met
police estimated there were about 5,000 in the crowd, with many holding
placards that said “refugees welcome” and “oppose Tommy Robinson” while
chanting “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”.
Police
carrying riot shields have been keeping the two demonstrations apart, but the
Met police said that officers were attacked by projectiles thrown from the
‘unite the kingdom’ crowd and had to “use force to avoid their cordon being
breached”. Stand up to Racism protesters shouted “fascist scum” while the
opposing group shouted at the line of officers and towards the anti-fascist
crowd, as they waved union jack flags and a metres-wide St George’s flag that
said “stop the boats”.
Tommy
Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley Lennon, urged his followers to remain
calm because of frustration from crowds at the ‘unite the kingdom’ rally not
able to get close enough to the stage and hear the speeches being made. He
wrote on X: “We are asking all of you, everyone who is understandably
frustrated, to please remain calm and peaceful. Let’s keep things safe and
civil.”
Prior to
the Stand Up to Racism march, independent MP Diane Abbott warned that “the far
right are a menace to the whole of society”. She added: “Their first targets,
asylum seekers and Muslims, are broadening to all migrants, black people and on
to trade unionists, all religious minorities and anti-racists.”
Away from
the demonstrations near Whitehall, Keir Starmer was photographed attending the
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest football match taking place at the Emirates Stadium
in London.
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