I only realised late on that this Tommy Robinson inspired event was going on, but once I had I marked it down as significant given where we are, as a kingdom (the UK), and what I see as an increasing divided kingdom that long ago I recognised as having lost its way.

I decided to follow what took place (thanks to THREE livestreams covering the event) and check out various commentary and thoughts, hopes and concerns, featuring the normal suspects (ranging from very pro to very anti), as well us hear what different people attending or interested in the event had to say.

What was slightly surprising was that the depth of feeling, especially in the against the rally and anti Tommy camp, seemed less intense than last time and I found less reporting in mainstream and social media. There were other rival “anti-hate” events that took place, spilling out the very things they criticised TR of – and little fair mainstream reporting to be found. The police were present in large numbers and were geared up for trouble, concerning which, in the light of the peaceful nature of the event, there was little to be found.  

The Guardian headline concerning the event was typically unsympathetic: “Police arrest 43 at ‘unite the kingdom’ and pro-Palestine marches in London – Officers were allegedly racially abused at Tommy Robinson march, which failed to draw huge numbers it was hoping for” (see here). A more sympathetic account of events of what one citizen journalist posted on his/her social media feed, I reproduce below, partly because he/she made several important points that I happen to agree and which saves me from having to make them.

I dived in and out of the live coverage amidst other activities, especially taking in what the wide array of fired-up speakers had to say. For one thing, it feeds into my next political blog to be written in the light of the recent local elections held in England. It doesn’t mean I agree with everything about the march or some of the concerns of my nice Christian friends that it may be promoting right wing, younameitist bigotry, but I share many of the concerns of the decent folk in attendance. As for the political and religious mix, I agree with TR that we need to get involved politically but also rejoice that this motley crowd is increasingly turning to God.  

What Citizen Smith has to say …

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡’𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦: 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗪𝗢𝗡’𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗬𝗢𝗨

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗩𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗦

Yesterday, tens of thousands of everyday British citizens marched through the streets of London for the UNITED KINGDOM rally. We saw a beautiful sea of flags from all countries, particularly the home nations, carried proudly by people of all colours, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

This was a peaceful assembly of everyday patriots attempting to make their voices and deep-felt concerns heard by the government—and Keir Starmer in particular.

Yet, like clockwork, the establishment and certain media outlets instantly smeared these peaceful participants as “FAR-RIGHT, RACIST THUGS”.

Meanwhile, on the very same day, marchers supporting regimes that back banned terrorist groups are gently sanitised under the media label of “pro-whatever” activists.

Why the double standard?

𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦

The contrast in behaviour on the ground was stark. Mainstream media journalists who approached the Patriots’ march were accommodated politely, treated with respect, and given open, honest interviews.

On the other side, the Far Left and counter-protesters aggressively targeted certain independent media outlets, shouting down reporters with foul, aggressive language while they were simply trying to gather neutral opinions.

According to official Metropolitan Police updates, a massive £4.5 MILLION SECURITY OPERATION deployed more than 4,000 officers alongside armoured vehicles, dogs, drones, and helicopters to maintain a no-go zone between the marching crowds. This operation, at the TAXPAYERS’ expense, resulted in a total of 43 arrests across the day’s protests:

𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 & 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦

🔴TOTAL ARRESTS: 43 individuals were detained for a variety of public order and criminal offences. Some of these individuals were spotted by live facial recognition and apprehended for previous offences unrelated to the day’s events—including two men wanted for a GBH incident in Birmingham who were intercepted arriving at Euston.

🔴ARREST DEMOGRAPHIC: The majority of the day’s arrests in central London stems from the pro-Palestinian Nakba Day rally, specifically involving supporters of the banned group Palestine Action.

🔴BREAKDOWN OF ARRESTS:

🛑 🇵🇸Palestine Action Supporters: 31 arrests were made in and around Parliament Square specifically for supporting the proscribed organisation.

🛑 🇬🇧”Unite the Kingdom” Marchers: A significantly smaller portion, approximately 12 arrests, were made at the rally led by Tommy Robinson, primarily for public order offences and isolated scuffles with police lines.

STARMER MUST BE SEETHING!

🔴SPECIFIC CHARGES: The tally included suspects detained for assaulting police officers, hate crime offences, and breaching strict Public Order Act conditions established to keep opposing groups separated.

🔴OFFICER CASUALTIES: During the clashes, four officers were assaulted and another six were subjected to targeted hate crimes.

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗥’𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡

Instead of listening to the legitimate frustrations of the British public, Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted a heavily publicised video statement across his social media channels directly condemning the organizers of the “Unite the Kingdom” march.

𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

In his address, Starmer explicitly targeted the rally with the following messages:

🔴CONDEMNED THE ORGANISERS: He stated that the march organisers—whom he described as “convicted thugs and racists”—are “peddling hatred and division, plain and simple”.

🔴DEFINED BRITISH VALUES: He argued their goal is to blame Britain’s problems on neighbours, countering that the true Britain is built on “decency, fairness, and respect”.

🔴WARNED LAWBREAKERS: He declared that while his government will protect peaceful protest, it will “act decisively against hatred” and deploy the “full force of the law” against any violence. I wonder if this will still apply to those arrested now the numbers have been revealed?

𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Starmer also used the announcement to confirm that his government had utilised Home Office powers to ban 11 foreign “far-right agitators” from entering the UK to attend the rally, stating, “We will not allow people to come to the UK, threaten our communities, and spread hate on our streets.”

It seems a little hypocritical considering there are thousands entering our country every month and being welcomed with free accommodation, food, and funds.

By generalising millions of concerned citizens and refusing to acknowledge the breakdown of public trust, the political class is fracturing the country further.

We want our country back, we want accountability, and we want an end to the weaponised TWO-TIER POLICING and biased narratives!