A large far-right rally in London on Saturday, 13 September 2025, resulted in violent clashes with police, leaving 26 officers injured and leading to 24 arrests. The event, organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, drew an estimated crowd of between 110,000 and 150,000 people, making it one of the largest nationalist protests in recent British history.
In response to the events, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that while people have a right to peaceful protest, violence and intimidation are unacceptable. “We will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin,” he said in a statement.
He emphasised that Britain is a nation “proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect” and that the English flag would not be surrendered to those who use it as a symbol of division and fear.
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Musk addresses protesters
A notable moment during the rally was a virtual address by billionaire Elon Musk, who spoke to the crowd via a large screen. In a question-and-answer session with Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, Musk called for a “dissolution of parliament and a new vote”.
“We must have revolutionary government change … This really requires everyone to sort of marshal the people, to take charge, reform the government, and make sure that you actually have a government that is for the people, by the people,” Musk stated. He also made inflammatory remarks, telling the crowd, “violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle described Musk’s speech as “totally inappropriate” but also referred to the protest as a “klaxon call” for politicians to address public concerns, including immigration. The protest’s size and the involvement of figures like Musk suggest a shift, with some attendees expressing an overt Christian nationalism, carrying crosses and reciting the Lord’s Prayer.
The clashes reportedly occurred when some activists tried to enter sealed-off areas near a counter-protest. According to the Metropolitan Police, officers were assaulted with “kicks and punches,” and projectiles such as bottles and flares were thrown. Four officers were seriously injured, with injuries including a possible broken nose, a concussion, and a prolapsed disc. Police are also seeking a man who was filmed calling for the prime minister to be assassinated.
Anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate described the event as Britain’s largest-ever far-right protest and warned that the rhetoric heard could be a “sign of dark times to come”. The sentiment for revolutionary change was a central theme for many who attended, who voiced grievances over immigration and a desire to “want our country back”.
Image: A demonstrator stands on the head of the South Bank lion that sits on the side of the Westminster Bridge, during a Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally in London, on Saturday.
