British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that the UK’s national flag will “never surrender” to far-right protesters, following violent incidents at one of the country’s largest anti-immigration demonstrations in decades. In his first comments since the rally, Starmer affirmed that peaceful protest is a core British value but condemned the assaults on police officers and the intimidation of minority communities.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” Starmer said. “But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the color of their skin.” He added that Britain’s flag symbolizes tolerance and diversity: “We will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”
Violence Erupts at London Rally
The rally, held on Saturday under the banner of “Unite the Kingdom,” drew more than 110,000 people through central London, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Clashes broke out as bottles were thrown at mounted police, forcing baton charges to push back Robinson’s supporters. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 26 officers were injured and at least 24 people were arrested. Approximately 5,000 counter-demonstrators also gathered in the Whitehall area.
Far-Right Leaders Deliver Inflammatory Speeches
A stage was set for speeches from a lineup of European far-right figures. Robinson told the crowd, “It’s not just Britain that is being invaded. It’s not just Britain that is being raped.” French politician Eric Zemmour echoed the controversial “great replacement” conspiracy theory, claiming that European populations were being replaced by immigrants of Muslim background. Belgian leader Filip Dewinter went further, declaring, “Islam is our real enemy. We have to get rid of Islam. Islam does not belong in Europe, and Islam does not belong in the UK.” Other speakers included Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt, German AfD MP Petr Bystron, and Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski. Tesla CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk also joined by video link, telling protesters that the UK needed an “urgent change in government.” He warned the audience to “fight back” or “die,” remarks that drew sharp criticism from anti-fascist campaign groups.
Police and Groups Condemn Violence
The anti-fascist campaign group Hope Not Hate condemned the rally’s speeches as “extremely disturbing,” while government and police officials decried the violence and intimidation. The event occurred amid a surge in far-right attacks in the UK, including recent arson incidents targeting hotels that house asylum seekers.
