Charlie Kirk’s death sparks London’s biggest far-right rally in decades | World News
A demonstrator stands on the head of one of the lions of Westminster Bridge during a Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally in London, Saturday Sept. 13, 2025. (AP photo)
London is witnessing one of the largest far-right gatherings in decades as nearly 1,10,000 people march through central London in the “Unite the Kingdom” rally, organised far-right activ Tommy Robinson. The event has been heavily framed around the recent killing of US conservative activ Charlie Kirk, which Robinson has turned into a rallying cry and fundraising opportunity.
The demonstration, which as per BBC, has drawn crowds waving Union Jacks, St George’s crosses, Scottish saltires, and Welsh flags, is billed Robinson as a “free speech festival.” A large stage set up in Whitehall is hosting speeches from high-profile figures, including US President Donald Trump’s former strateg Steve Bannon, ex-special forces soldier Ant Middleton, and European far-right politicians from Germany’s AfD and Poland, The Guardian reported. US commentator Joey Mannarino is also scheduled to appear.
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Canadian psycholog Jordan Peterson, another advertised speaker, has not confirmed his attendance, raising questions about his ongoing association with mainstream conservative groups such as the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship.
Who is Tommy Robinson
The Guardian reported that for Robinson (42) — whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — the rally represents an attempt to consolidate the fragmented far-right in Britain. He has allied himself with Advance UK, a new political party launched former Reform UK figures, and increasingly embraced Chrian national rhetoric since his release from prison. Much of his core support is expected to come from football firms and veterans of the English Defence League.
Demonstrators take part in the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally near Westminster, London, Saturday Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
In a video posted Thursday, Robinson referred to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, saying: “The bastard who has murdered him, or the organisation, the corporation or the government it is that has killed him.” Authorities later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the fatal shooting in Utah.
A counter-protest, dubbed the “March Against Fascism,” has also drawn nearly 5,000 people. Organised Stand Up to Racism (SUTR), demonstrators marched from Russell Square toward Parliament Square, only a few hundred metres from the far-right rally, with placards reading “Women Against the Far Right,” “Oppose Tommy Robinson,” and “Refugees Welcome.” Speeches were expected MPs Diane Abbott and Zarah Sultana, highlighting opposition to the far-right agenda.
Concerns among Muslim residents over rhetoric
The Metropolitan Police have deployed around 1,000 officers for the day, including 500 borrowed from other forces, and established barriers to create a “sterile area” separating the two groups. Commander Clair Haynes noted concerns among London’s Muslim communities due to Robinson’s hory of anti-Muslim rhetoric, but urged residents not to avoid central London: “Officers will take a firm line on behaviour that is discriminatory or that crosses the line from protest into hate crime… Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London.”
🚨NEW: Crowd of 500k-1M protesters have gathered in London for a Tommy Robinson march pic.twitter.com/9Z7Dow0SuN— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) September 13, 2025
Police confirmed they will not be using live facial recognition during the event and asked demonstrators to be considerate of communities they pass through. The Met said the Unite the Kingdom rally is scheduled to end 18:00, while the counter-protest is expected to conclude 16:00, according to the organisers’ plans.
As per The Guardian, Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate, an anti-extremism organisation, said the rally could be pivotal: “This is going to be big, but the real question is whether it becomes the moment the movement coalesces around Robinson — or whether it just highlights the fragmentation to the right of Reform UK.”
The event comes amid growing concerns over far-right mobilisation in the UK, with organisers blending nationalism, Chrian rhetoric, and reactionary politics to attract supporters from across Britain, Europe, and the US, while anti-racism groups seek to counter the rising tide with coordinated protests and public awareness campaigns.
(With inputs from BBC, The Guardian and Reuters)
