Today saw Britain’s largest ever far-right protest with police estimating 150,000 people in attendance for the “Unite the Kingdom” rally. Organised by Stephen Lennon — aka Tommy Robinson — the event attracted some of the most extreme figures in the British far right. Although the event was nominally concerned with “unity, boldness and truth”, it was marred by far-right campaigners expressing the belief that Britain is being invaded by Islam.
Across Saturday afternoon, the crowd were subjected to an array of speeches by high profile far-right figures from the UK and abroad including, Elon Musk (who appeared by video link), the French far-right politician Éric Zemmour, Rebel News’s Ezra Levant and politicians and activists from Germany, Poland, Holland, Ireland, Spain, Belgium and New Zealand.
As the day progressed, scuffles broke out between Lennon supporters, counter-protestors, and the police lines separating them. Small groups intent on violence did manage to push through the police, forcing them to deploy dogs in response. “A number of officers have been assaulted,” said a Metropolitan Police statement.
On the stage he erected on Whitehall, Lennon claimed that the protest was attended by three million people — a far cry from the police estimate of 110,000. Nonetheless, they endured the rain and a punishingly long list of over 20 speakers to attend the rally. The crowd intermittently broke into chants of “Oh Tommy Tommy” and “Send them back”. Many of the speeches referenced the murder of Charlie Kirk, with some in the crowd holding up his picture.
Anti-Kier Starmer chants broke out regularly and the Prime Minister was attacked in numerous speeches. American Republican candidate Valentina Gomez went as far as describing him as, “the biggest paedophile protector in history.”
Subsequent speakers were no less extreme. The disgraced actor Laurence Fox ranted about “demographic suicide,” while the former Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins delivered a typically aggressive tirade, shouting: “I don’t care what biological sex you think you might be. You can identify as a light if you want to — I’ll take a lightbulb and shove it up your arse if it makes you happy.”
One of the most anticipated speeches came from Reform UK’s former deputy chairman, Ben Habib. Habib is the chairman of the rival party, Advance UK, which sponsored Lennon’s event, and their merchandise and banners were unavoidable. Last month, Lennon joined the party, which has not yet registered with the Electoral Commission. Other corporate sponsorship came from a new social media company and a crypto trading platform.
One of the final speakers was former SAS soldier turned right-wing activist Ant Middleton, who used the stage to announce he will be running for London Mayor as an independent. Due to the enormous number of guests they ran out of time meaning Carl Benjamin (AKA Sargon of Akkad), ‘Young Bob’, former MP Andrew Bridgen and Chris ‘Billboard Chris’ Elston who had travelled from Canada, were unable to give their speeches.
International Speakers
Some of the more extreme speeches came from international guests. Introducing a section of the event that featured politicians from overseas, Lennon set the tone by telling the crowd:
“It’s not just Britain that is being invaded, it’s not just Britain that is being raped. Every single Western nation faces the same problem: an orchestrated, organised invasion and replacement of European citizens is happening.”
Éric Zemmour, the far-right French politician, took the stage to echo Lennon’s comments on so-called replacement theory. Zemmour, who founded the Reconquête party, has elsewhere defended the Vichy regime that collaborated with Nazi Germany. Talking via a translator, Zemmour said: “We are both subject to the same process of the Great Replacement of our European peoples by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture. You and we are being colonised by our former colonies.”
Similarly, the Belgian far-right politician Philip Dewinter said: “It has to be clear that 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.”
The Dutch far-right commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek delivered one of the day’s most incendiary speeches, appearing in a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Generation Remigration”. She said:
“They are demanding the sacrifice of our children on the altar of mass migration. Let’s not beat about the bush — this is the rape, replacement, and murder of our people… Remigration is possible, and it’s up to us to make it happen. We are Generation Remigration.”
Ada Lluch, a Spanish influencer, echoed Vlaardingerbroek: “The government are taking our money and financing the great demographic replacement of our nation.”
Both Steve Bannon and Jordan Peterson were billed to speak but did not attend. Elon Musk, however, made a surprise appearance via video link. His speech called for the dissolution of parliament, and veered between calling for a new election and revolutionary change. “The left is the party of murder and celebrating murder,” he claimed. “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or die.” After a week when violent political rhetoric has been in the spotlight, Musk chose to exacerbate tensions rather than defuse them.
Islamophobia permeated the speeches on Whitehall. “This is a religious war,” said Brian Tamaki, leader of New Zealand’s Destiny Church. “Islam, Hinduism, Baháʼí, Buddhism — whatever else you’re into — they’re all false. We’ve got to clean our countries up. Get rid of everything that doesn’t receive Jesus Christ. Ban any public expression of other religions in our Christian nations. Ban halal. Ban burqas. Ban mosques, temples, shrines — we don’t want those in our countries.”
After his speech, several flags were torn up on stage, including the Palestinian flag.
This brand of Christian extremism has become increasingly prominent at Lennon’s demonstrations. The day’s soundtrack was provided by the Christian rock singer Rikki Doolan from the Spirit Embassy church in north London. At one point, he shouted skywards, imploring the rain to stop “in the name of Jesus”.
Worryingly, a number of priests were present at the event. Bishop Dewar of the Confessing Anglican Church opened the rally with a prayer, while Rev. Brett Murphy and Right Rev. Dr. David Nicholls from Morecambe, Lancashire also attended.
While Lennon complained about the media calling his demonstration “far right”, the speeches from the stage and elements of the crowd proved it was justified. Avi Yemini, the far-right influencer, was shouted down by the White Vanguard member Kai Cunningham while conducting interviews. Yemini and his video team hastily departed while Cunningham yelled: “Out with the Zionist rats.”
Unite the Kingdom became not just a spectacle organised by Lennon but an opportunity for far-right activists to gather and mingle. Also in attendance were Nick Tenconi, leader of UKIP, Paul Golding and Ashlea Simon, co-leaders of Britain First, Kenny Smith, chair of the Homeland Party, Carl Benjamin, the misogynist influencer known as Sargon of Akkad, and Tom Rowsell, the pagan YouTuber known as Survive the Jive.
Perhaps the most disturbing encounter was at the front of the crowd on Whitehall, where Will Coleshill, a content creator for the conspiracy channel Resistance GB, filmed a man calling for the murder of Keir Starmer. The man, who did not give his name, identified himself as a former criminal from Kent who has spent 26 years in prison. “Keir Starmer needs to be assassinated,” he said. “Someone needs to shoot Keir Starmer.”
“We’re not endorsing assassination,” said Coleshill.
“I am,” replied the man. He went on to accuse Muslims of “worshipping a paedophile” and being incompatible with British society.
Today’s event was extremely disturbing. While the turnout was significantly smaller than the millions claimed by Lennon and his supporters, it appears to be the largest far-right demonstration ever seen in Britain.
Seeing such a big crowd cheering speeches that called for banning all public expression of non-Christian religions, demanded the “remigration” of legal migrants, pushed Covid conspiracy theories, and claimed Britain is being “invaded” and its population “replaced” is unprecedented.
Lennon and his fans will likely see this event as a success. For anyone worried about the rise of far-right activism and the normalisation of viciously anti-migrant, anti-Muslim sentiment, it could be a sign of dark times to come.
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Prefer to listen? Click the play button to hear the audio version. Harry Shukman Reform UK is staffed by oddballs and enigmas, but none odder…
