Organisers of a march against antisemitism billed as Britain’s biggest since the second world war have demanded that the far-right leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon stay away.
Yaxley-Lennon, who uses the name Tommy Robinson, has claimed to support the aims of the march through central London due to be held this Sunday.
Organisers say it will be the biggest protest against anti-Jewish hatred since the 1936 Cable Street protests against Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts.
Britain’s Jewish communities have suffered a large rise in antisemitism since the Middle East exploded into crisis after the Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October. Police said up to 50,000 people were expected at Sunday’s march.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Contrary to what Tommy Robinson appears to believe, the drunken far-right thugs who came to ‘protect the Cenotaph’ on Armistice Day, some of whom shouted ‘sieg heil’ or hospitalised police officers, are not allies of the Jewish community and are not welcome at our solidarity march on Sunday 26 November.
“We look forward to seeing those who genuinely support our community and invite all of our allies to join us and march shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with British Jews.”
On 11 November, Armistice Day, Robinson supporters were among those who attacked police after claiming to be protecting war monuments from pro-Palestine marchers.
The Met deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “Having spoken to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, Tommy Robinson is not welcome at the march on Sunday.”
Police said they were aware that Robinson might try to attend posing as a reporter.
Adelekan added: “What we cannot see and what we will not let happen, is the kind of violence that happened on 11 November. We’ve got enough officers in order to make sure we prevent that from happening.”
This weekend will see pro-Palestine protesters resume their large-scale marches through central London, with police expecting more than 100,000 to join in.
Adelekan warned of tougher tactics against religious or racial hatred, or appearing to support Hamas or its massacres, which would break anti-terrorism laws.
It will be the fifth such march and, while organisers have won praise from police for their cooperation, a handful of people attending have displayed potentially illegal signs.
Police will hand out leaflets warning that hate chants or placards, as well as support for Hamas, will lead to potential arrest and prosecution.
Some in Jewish communities say the now-regular pro-Palestine marches on a Saturday leave them feeling scared to enter central London.
Gideon Falter, the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Week after week, central London has become a no-go zone for Jews.
“We have witnessed mass criminality, including glorification of terrorism, support for banned terrorist organisations such as Hamas, and incitement to racial or religious hatred against Jews.
“The sad truth is that Jews do not feel safe in our capital city.”
However, Adelekan said: “It is safe. We’ve got 1,500 officers present … we’ve got different tactics we are using … yes, it is safe for Jewish people to come into London.”
