On September 13, 2025, the heart of London became the stage for one of the most charged public demonstrations in recent memory, as tens of thousands gathered for the 'Unite the Kingdom' rally led by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. The day was marked not only by massive turnout—estimated at over 110,000 by the Metropolitan Police—but also by violence, disruption, and a city on edge as police and protesters clashed in scenes that left many Londoners unsettled.
The demonstration, which drew Robinson’s supporters from across the country, was countered by a smaller but vocal presence of approximately 5,000 anti-racist activists organized by Stand Up To Racism. The Metropolitan Police, anticipating potential trouble, deployed more than 1,600 officers to central London in an effort to keep the peace. Despite these preparations, the day quickly unraveled into chaos, with police lines breached, projectiles hurled, and officers assaulted.
Reports from LBC and MyLondon described a tense atmosphere as the crowds swelled. The Met’s official statement confirmed, “We continue to see significant aggression directed at officers by Unite the Kingdom protesters. We have deployed additional officers with protective equipment in multiple locations, supported by police horses, to deal with the disorder.” The strategy was tested repeatedly as Robinson’s supporters attempted to breach police cordons and gain access to areas designated as sterile, or off-limits, to prevent direct clashes with counter-protesters.
Violence erupted at several flashpoints throughout the afternoon. Around 5:25 pm, as police began pushing Robinson supporters back toward Trafalgar Square and Northumberland Avenue, objects including a traffic cone, bottles, and pieces of wood were thrown at officers. Mounted police were called in, and at about 5:45 pm, more than 100 helmeted officers—backed by dozens of police horses—rushed at the crowd along Northumberland Avenue toward Embankment station, attempting to disperse the increasingly agitated demonstrators.
By 6 pm, tensions remained high. Men wearing St George’s flags shouted insults and spat at police officers stationed beneath a tunnel outside Embankment station. Some used megaphones to heckle, while others hurled abuse from above. The police, supported by at least seven vans, held their ground and prevented the crowd from advancing further or accessing the nearby station.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere oscillated between raucous and volatile. Speeches and music continued on the stage in Whitehall well past the 6 pm cutoff time set by police. Tommy Robinson eventually brought the stage events to a close just after 6:30 pm, promising supporters, “We’re going to have to come back and finish this off.” He apologized to several speakers who didn’t have time to address the crowd, including former MP Andrew Bridgen, hinting at future rallies and ongoing activism.
The day’s events were punctuated by moments of raw emotion and pointed political rhetoric. Ben Habib, leader of Advance UK and an ally of Robinson, addressed the crowd, criticizing mainstream political leaders for their absence. “The question is not whether or not Ben Habib should be here. The question is where are the other bloody leaders of the political parties? Where are they?” he said, accusing other politicians of succumbing to “ridiculous cancel culture.” Habib also led chants critical of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, reflecting the combative mood among Robinson’s followers.
Perhaps the most unexpected intervention of the day came via videolink from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who addressed the rally with a stark warning. “I think there’s something beautiful about being British and what I see happening here is a destruction of Britain, initially a slow erosion but rapidly increasing erosion of Britain with massive uncontrolled migration. A failure by the government to protect innocent people including children who are getting gang-raped. It’s unreal the government has failed in its duty to protect its citizens which is a fundamental duty of government,” Musk declared, echoing themes that have dominated Robinson’s activism and stirring further controversy.
The protest was not without its lighter or more surreal moments. The indie band James found itself unexpectedly drawn into the fray when their hit song “Sit Down” was used in a video posted by Robinson to highlight the size of the protest. The band’s lead singer quickly distanced himself and the group from the event, posting on X, “Disgusted to see the cynical use of ‘Sit Down’ by @TRobinsonNewEra. No permission was granted, and we are looking into our options. The song and most of our topical lyrics, make it very clear where we stand, and it’s the antithesis of this organization.”
Yet the overriding mood was one of confrontation and fear. At least nine people were arrested during the course of the day, with police warning that more arrests were likely as they reviewed incidents of “unacceptable violence.” According to Scotland Yard, officers faced a barrage of projectiles and physical assaults as they struggled to maintain order and separate opposing groups.
For many Londoners, the day was fraught with anxiety. Reports circulated that some members of the city’s Muslim communities were considering staying away from central London, fearing anti-Muslim rhetoric and the potential for violence. Commander Clair Haynes, in charge of the Met’s public order policing operation, sought to reassure the public: “We recognise that there are particular concerns for many in London’s Muslim communities ahead of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protest given the record of anti-Muslim rhetoric and incidents of offensive chanting by a minority at previous marches. There have been some suggestions that Muslim Londoners should change their behaviour this Saturday, including not coming into town. That is not our advice. Everyone should be able to feel safe travelling into and around London. Our officers are there to ensure that is the case and we’d urge anyone who is out on Saturday and feels concerned to speak to us.”
Some participants in the rally voiced their own frustrations with the current political climate. A woman from Brazil and a man from Poland, both supporters of Robinson, told LBC they were “fed up with the government” and felt people were being prosecuted for expressing their opinions. “We want our children to be free and be able to speak their opinions without going to jail. I think at the moment it’s madness,” the woman said. Her companion added, “We cannot say anything that is deemed controversial from the left.”
As dusk settled over London, the city’s streets bore the marks of a day shaped by deep divisions and passionate protest. With Robinson promising further action and police bracing for future challenges, the story of September 13, 2025, stands as a stark reminder of the tensions simmering beneath the surface of British society.
