On September 13, 2025, London’s Parliament Square became the stage for the “Unite the Kingdom” march, a far-right rally against immigration led by activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon), an anti-Islam campaigner with a history of criminal convictions. According to Al Jazeera, more than 110,000 people attended the protest, making it one of the largest right-wing gatherings in recent British history. Robinson himself claimed that it was a “show of patriotic unity like never seen before”. Demonstrators carried Union Jacks and the red-and-white St George’s Cross, alongside U.S. and Israeli flags. Some wore “Make America Great Again” hats for U.S. President Donald Trump. The event drew international figures and amplified polarizing rhetoric. U.S. billionaire Elon Musk appeared via video call, declaring an immediate change of the U.K. government and claiming that“there is something beautiful about being British, but what is happening here is a rapidly increasing erosion of Britain with massive uncontrolled migration.”. French Politician Eric Zemmour invoked the white nationalist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, adjudicating that Europeans are being “colonised by our former colonies”.
Even though the right to peaceful protest is fundamental in democratic societies, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said, “many protesters came intent on violence”. In fact, the “Unite the Kingdom” crowd clashed with police. According to The Guardian, officers were reportedly kicked, punched, and pelted with projectiles, flares, and bottles. Twenty-six officers were injured, four of them seriously. The reported attacks happened after protesters breached a “sterile area” put in place to keep them and counterprotesters apart. Counter-protesters, organized by the “Stand up to Racism” campaign group, gathered nearby with signs reading “Refugees Welcome” and “Smash the far right”. The Stand Up to Racism crowd was accompanied and supported by left-wing lawmakers Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott.
The reaction of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Shabana Mahmood, was clear and direct, condemning those who have attacked and injured police officers and insisting that “anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law”. According to Al Jazeera, at least 25 people were arrested, and “these detentions are just the start,” Matt Twist said.
The violence and language demonstrate how scapegoating functions in times of social tension. In this case, migrants and refugees, a vulnerable group, are blamed for broader political-economic challenges, from housing shortages to social unrest. Hostile behaviour was evident in both physical violence and in the rhetoric that immigrants are a threat rather than human beings seeking safety. While freedom of expression and protest must be protected, incitement to hatred corrodes core democratic values and undermines the efforts to build cohesive, peaceful societies.
These protests are rooted in wider migration debates in the U.K.. This year, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the filing of over 28,000 asylum claims, together with thousands who have attempted Channel crossings in boats. On one hand, Far-right movements frame these numbers as evidence of “uncontrolled migration”; on the other hand, humanitarian organizations highlight them as fleeing war, persecution, or poverty.
These recent events emphasise the urgent need for peaceful and inclusive solutions to migration challenges. If violent protests continue to dominate, divisions within society may deepen, fueling instability and resentment. The future of Britain’s security lies not in exclusion but in building a society resilient enough to embrace diversity while addressing challenges through non-violent means. Migration should be seen as a resource that enriches the country, culture, economy, and population.
