SPECIAL REPORT: The ECHO was in Liverpool city centre as counter-protesters outnumbered the far-right party’s ‘mass deportations’ march
19:04, 23 Aug 2025Updated 19:04, 23 Aug 2025
A protester at the UKIP rally(Image: Andrew Teebay)
Huge crowds of anti-fascist protesters outnumbered a UKIP demonstration and prevented it from marching towards Liverpool Women’s Hospital. The UKIP “mass deportations” march planned to move towards the Toxteth maternity hospital but never made it beyond the sight of Liverpool Lime Street.
UKIP leader Nick Tenconi eventually gave up with his plans and relented to giving his speech to supporters within the shadow of St George’s Hall. However, he was largely drowned out by chants and music from counter-protesters who outnumbered UKIP followers by at least five to one as the afternoon wore on.
Tenconi, wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, could be overheard telling his closest supporters he was “going to the pub” as the anti-fascists chanted “Liverpool, Liverpool, Liverpool” and “you’ll never make it to L8”.
The march and counter-protest were largely peaceful, although several small incidents broke out. The ECHO observed a young man wearing a suit and previously seen walking beside Tenconi being arrested after someone was knocked to the ground, while a different incident saw a woman bundled into a police matrix van while anti-fascists chanted “shame on you” towards the officers.
Anti-fascist supporters at the UKIP rally(Image: Andrew Teebay)
In an update shortly before 5pm today, Merseyside Police confirmed it had made 11 arrests for alleged offences, including being drunk and disorderly, affray and assault.
Superintendent Karl Baldwin, who led the police’s response, said: “We will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour, and despite the vast majority of people protesting lawfully and peacefully, sadly there were a number of people who were arrested for various offences, including public order offences and assault.”
Huge numbers of local police officers were in attendance today, Saturday, in Liverpool’s city centre. The officers in riot gear kept the two sides away from each other for large parts of the afternoon, while a police plane flew overhead. At one point the police appeared to kettle the counter-protesters to allow for the UKIP march to begin to move, but it only managed to circle around St John’s Gardens before it was blocked by anti-fascists from continuing on out of the city centre.
Police keep both sides apart at the UKIP rally(Image: Andrew Teebay)
The force has since said this action was its officers directing the march back to St George’s Hall due to the “serious disruption which was being caused to the community at the time”. St George’s Place and St John’s Lane were both blocked because of the crowds of people, with transport networks also temporarily shut down out of Queen Square bus station.
Superintendent Baldwin said: “This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made because there was evidence of serious disruption to the community, which is one of the limited reasons such conditions can be applied…We would like to thank members of the public and businesses in the city centre for their patience during the course of this event.”
UKIP supporters pictured in Liverpool(Image: Andrew Teebay)
The two groups had initially faced off against each other close to the stairs of the famous St George’s Hall. UKIP supporters, many of them wearing T-shirts and hoodies with the Union Jack on, clasped placards bearing slogans including “British lives matter” and “illegal criminals”.
The UKIP supporters chanted in support of far-right activist and former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson and sang the “Rule, Britannia” chorus.
The anti-fascist counter-protesters responded with chants of “Say it loud, say it proud, refugees are welcome here” and “There are many more of us than you.” Banners including “Greens against fascism” and “Stand up to racism” were left aloft while placards stamped with “smash the far-right” were waved in the air along with several Palestinian flags.
Anti-fascist supporters at the UKIP Rally.(Image: Andrew Teebay)
In the days leading up to the UKIP march, local leaders said the timing and proposed route raised “serious questions about intent and impact”. The planned direction of the UKIP rally would have taken it in close proximity to Toxteth’s African Caribbean Centre, while the Slavery Remembrance Day Walk moved through the city centre at the same time.
Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said: “The potential for disruption, distress and intimidation in these spaces is unacceptable…we will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the safety, dignity or cohesion of our communities.”
At its peak the UKIP rally totalled around 150 people, but numbers quickly dwindled when it became apparent the march was going to be unsuccessful in its plans to leave the city centre. When asked by the ECHO why she was at the protest, one woman wearing a Union Jack t-shirt said, “I’m here to protect our kids” but didn’t elaborate further.
A young couple, who asked not to be named, holding placards stamped with “Socialist Worker”, told the ECHO: “It’s amazing to see so many people out fighting against fascism in our city. But we’re surprised and a bit concerned to see people in Liverpool supporting the far-right. I think the only thing we agree on with them is our dislike of Starmer.”
Nick Tenconi, UKIP leader, at the rally in Liverpool(Image: Andrew Teebay)
A dispersal zone remains in place in Liverpool’s city centre over the weekend. The legislation gives police officers additional powers to counter people engaging in criminality and anti-social behaviour. Different legislation also allows officers to arrest those who fail to remove a face covering when asked by an officer.
UKIP as a political force reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s when it gained two members of parliament. Since then the party has continually declined, earning just 6,350 votes nationwide during the 2024 general election.
As supporters of the far-right party dwindled to just 30 in number as the clock ticked towards 4pm, Tenconi and his gaggle of closest supporters realised their plan had failed. And as they left, tails between their legs, the hundreds of anti-fascists still in attendance cheered and shouted, “Not in our city.”