Closing summary
It’s coming up to 9pm in the UK. This blog will be closing shortly but you can find all the Guardian’s UK politics coverage here.
According to the Metropolitan police, about 110,000 people were 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 flags made their way from near Waterloo Bridge to Whitehall.
A smaller counter-protest led 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 said they had to intervene in multiple locations to try to stop supporters of the “unite the kingdom” march from entering sterile areas. The force also said that a number of officers had been assaulted, and that some members of the crowd breached police cordons or tried to reach opposing groups.
There were nine arrests, with many more likely, the Met said, as violence flared at the protest. More people were identified to be committing offences. “We will find them and they will face police action, even if it is not possible to do so today,” the force wrote in a social media post.
Elon Musk addressed the crowd attending the march via video link. He said a “dissolution of parliament” and a “change of government” is needed in the UK, and also railed against the “woke mind virus”. Other speakers included Katie Hopkins and French far-right politician Éric Zemmour.
Elsewhere, 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 north London.
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Home secretary condemns protesters
The home secretary condemned protesters who attacked and injured police officers at the march.
Shabana Mahmood posted on X on Saturday evening: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to this nation. I thank the police who worked hard to ensure much of today’s protest was peaceful.
“But I condemn those who have attacked and injured police officers. Anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law.”
Also on X, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised Elon Musk for comments delivered via video link in which he said a “dissolution of parliament” and a “change of government” were needed in the UK.
Davey said: “Our democracy is too precious to be a plaything for foreign tech barons.
“Elon Musk doesn’t care about the British people or our rights. He only cares about himself and his ego.”
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