UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared that Britain will not allow people to feel intimidated “because of their background or the colour of their skin,” following violent clashes at a mass far-right protest in central London.
The rally, organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, drew an estimated 150,000 people, according to police. What began as a demonstration quickly spiralled into violent confrontations, leaving 26 police officers injured—four of them seriously—and resulting in 24 arrests. The Metropolitan Police warned that more arrests are expected in the coming days.
In his first comments since the unrest, Starmer condemned both the violence and the racist intimidation reported during the protest.
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in our democracy,” the prime minister said in a statement posted to X. “But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their jobs, nor will we tolerate people being made to feel unsafe on our streets because of their race, religion, or background.”
Starmer, who was the target of fierce criticism at the demonstration, stressed that Britain’s identity rests on its diversity.
“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity, and respect. Our flag represents our shared values, and we will never surrender it to those who seek to turn it into a symbol of violence, fear, and division,” he added.
The Metropolitan Police described the violence as “unacceptable,” noting that officers faced attacks as they tried to contain disturbances on the fringes of Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” rally.
The force initially reported 26 arrests but later revised the figure down to 24 after discovering duplicate records.
Authorities have vowed a continued crackdown, with further arrests anticipated as investigations progress.
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