London on Edge as ‘Unite the Kingdom’ March Led by Tommy Robinson Draws Thousands and Counter-Protests

Thousands of people converged on central London on Saturday, 13 September 2025, as far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, led the controversial “Unite the Kingdom” march. The rally drew both large groups of supporters and significant opposition, turning central London into the stage for one of the most high-profile political demonstrations in recent years.


Robinson’s supporters began gathering at Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge. The march moved through York Road before crossing Westminster Bridge and heading into Whitehall for a rally. At the same time, counter-demonstrators under the banner “March Against Fascism,” organised by the group Stand Up to Racism, assembled at Russell Square at midday. They marched through Kingsway, Aldwych and The Strand, also converging on Whitehall where their rally was held.


The Metropolitan Police deployed a major operation to keep both sides apart and prevent potential clashes. More than 1,600 officers, including 500 drafted in from other forces, were on duty across the city. Barriers were erected, and a large “sterile area” was created to physically separate the two groups.


Strict conditions were also enforced under the Public Order Act to ensure the protests remained within designated routes and times. The force reassured Londoners that security measures were robust and urged residents, particularly members of the Muslim community, not to alter their daily routines because of the demonstrations.


Robinson promoted the march as a “free speech festival,” insisting his supporters should remain peaceful, avoid covering their faces with masks, refrain from drinking openly, and not resort to violence. In his messaging, he also invoked the recent killing of US conservative figure Charlie Kirk, presenting the event partly in Kirk’s memory and linking it to broader debates on freedom of expression.


Despite Robinson’s call for calm, critics of the march argued that his rallies often carry undertones of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic rhetoric, raising fears that such events deepen social divisions. Counter-protesters, carrying placards and chanting against hate, said their presence was necessary to stand against what they view as the normalisation of far-right ideology in British politics.


The day’s events placed London at the centre of a tense standoff between two sharply opposed groups, with police vigilance ensuring that large-scale clashes were avoided. For many observers, the demonstration underscored the polarising role of figures like Robinson in Britain’s political and cultural landscape, while also reigniting debate about the boundaries of free speech and the risks of extremist rhetoric.

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