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Sadiq Khan says ‘violence and attacking police officers’ at London rally were ‘completely unacceptable’
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said the pockets of violence at the protest yesterday were “completely unacceptable”.
In a post on X thanking the Metropolitan police for its work, he wrote:
My thanks go to all the officers policing protests today. Most protestors were peaceful, but a number of officers were assaulted and arrests have been made.
Violence and attacking police officers is completely unacceptable.
The Met said 25 people had been arrested for a range of offences in what it described as “wholly unacceptable” violence.
Marchers were arrested for a range of offences, including affray, violent disorder, assaults and criminal damage.
Because of the size of the demonstration, the Met was supported by officers from other forces, including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Devon and Cornwall.
People march at the Unite the Kingdom rally in central London. Photograph: James Willoughby/SOPA Images/ShutterstockShareScale of Tommy Robinson protest shows free speech is ‘alive and well’ in the UK, minister says
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics.
At least 25 people were arrested and 26 police officers were injured – including four who were seriously hurt – at Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” protest in London yesterday, the Metropolitan police said.
The protest, thought to be the largest nationalist event in decades, saw between 110,000 and 150,000 people turn out, significantly exceeding the estimates of organisers. Elsewhere, about 5,000 anti-racism campaigners mounted a counter-protest.
The crowds were addressed by Elon Musk, who dialled in via video link and spoke of “the rapidly increasing erosion of Britain”, before calling for the dissolution of the UK parliament.
Protesters clash with police at far-right rally in London – video
Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle was asked by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips this morning if the demonstration – organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson – “disturbed” him.
Kyle said the number of people who turned out for the protest shows free speech is “alive and well” in the UK.
He explained:
It doesn’t disturb me, because it’s actually proof that we live in a country where free speech, free association, is alive and well.
The bit that disturbs me is that when a minority go to an extreme and end up perpetrating violence against the police. That is unacceptable and those people should and will pay for it.
“The flag was waved quite a lot and I do want to make the point that the flag belongs to all of us,” Kyle added.
“That flag means a lot of different things to a lot of people, but it is about essential British and English values and principles.”