Over 100,000 join Tommy Robinson’s ‘Free Speech’ march in London as counter-protesters rally

More than 100,000 people took to the streets of central London on Saturday for a mass march led by far-right figure Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Waving Union Jacks, St George’s crosses, and Christian symbols, supporters gathered south of Westminster before crossing Westminster Bridge and rallying near Downing Street.

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Billed as the “Unite the Kingdom” free speech march, the event drew an estimated 110,000 attendees, according to police figures verified through CCTV and helicopter footage. Robinson, addressing the crowd, declared: “The silent majority will be silent no longer. Today is the spark of a cultural revolution.”

Around 5,000 counter-protesters with the Stand Up to Racism group held a separate march nearby, with London police deploying 1,000 officers to prevent clashes. Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott, speaking at the anti-racism rally, accused Robinson of spreading “dangerous lies” about migrants and asylum seekers.

Robinson’s supporters, including families and younger attendees, voiced anger at record levels of immigration, particularly the thousands of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel. “It’s an invasion,” said one marcher, calling Robinson “a hero” who represents their frustrations with both Labour and Conservative governments.

Placards at the rally bore slogans such as “stop the boats” and some carried photos of US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, recently killed in a shooting. High-profile speakers scheduled included French far-right politician Eric Zemmour, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, and Germany’s AfD MP Petr Bystron. Reports also suggested former Trump strategist Steve Bannon would address the gathering.

The demonstration unfolded amid broader debates over free speech in Britain, following the government’s ban on the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action and arrests under anti-terror laws. The detention of comedy writer Graham Linehan for alleged online comments about transgender people also fueled controversy.

Once considered a declining figure, Robinson has seen his influence surge since Elon Musk reinstated his account on X in late 2023. His return to prominence reflects the intensifying culture wars in Britain, as immigration and free speech dominate political discourse.