Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed that Britain will not allow people to feel threatened “because of their background or the colour of their skin,” following violent clashes at a far-right rally in London.
The demonstration, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, drew an estimated 150,000 people on Saturday near Downing Street, according to police. The event quickly escalated into chaos, with violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement leaving 26 police officers injured, four of them seriously. Authorities confirmed 24 arrests, with more expected in the coming days.
In his first public comments on the unrest, Starmer stressed the importance of protecting the right to peaceful protest while condemning assaults on police officers and the atmosphere of intimidation created by far-right demonstrators.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” Starmer said in a statement on X. “But 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.”
The Labour leader also rejected attempts by extremists to misuse national symbols, declaring: “Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear, and division.”
The Metropolitan Police condemned the “unacceptable violence” that erupted at the rally and confirmed that efforts are underway to track down and charge more participants involved in the disturbances.
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