Supporters of Robinson watch on large screens in Trafalgar square during the “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London [Getty]
Racism and Islamophobia were on full display at London’s far-right rally on Saturday, where participants called for migrants to leave the country and participants mocked Muslims.
Tens of thousands crowded the streets of the British capital for the so-called “Unite the Kingdom” hate march, led by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, and bringing together various far-right groups.
The demonstration coincided with a much larger march in central London marking 78 years since the Nakba of 1948, when the state of Israel was created following the forced displacement and killing of 750,000 Palestinians. Many participants in the far-right rally were seen carrying Israeli flags.
In comments made to a participant at the rally, Robinson said he would “stop Islam” if he ever became prime minister.
“I would stop Islam, I’d end foreign funding for this country, all the migrants would be taken out of the hotels and sent back tomorrow by the military,” he said.
“I would have remigration. It’s time for many Muslims to leave this country if they’re not willing to integrate or assimilate. It’s time to go home,” he added.
The UK has seen a rise in Islamophobic hate crimes in recent years, particularly since the escalation of the war in Gaza, with incidents often going underreported.
Far-right rallies such as Saturday’s, alongside sweeping victories for Reform UK in recent local elections, risk further polarising British society and deepening divisions over immigration and identity.
“You’ve got your homes to go to; this is our home. We’ve got nowhere to go to – we’re not allowing it to change any longer,” Robinson claimed.
Far-right activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull also addressed the crowd, calling for Islam to be removed from schools and other public institutions.
“It’s not too late to get Islam out of our classrooms… it is not too late to get Islam out of every single official office in this country. And more than not too late, it is absolutely vital, if we want to save this country, we have to remove Islam from every single place of authority,” she said.
Three women at the rally mocked Islam by taking to the stage dressed in a niqab, the face veil worn by some Muslim women. They were met with boos from the crowd, followed by chants of “take it off,” before they removed the garments.
The move garnered widespread criticism online from activists and campaigners.
“Open display of Islamophobia at Unite The Kingdom rally in London sparking outrage as questions grow over the response of police and authorities,” correspondent Murtaza Ali Shah wrote on X, commenting on a video of the niqab stunt.
“They would have arrested anyone else abusing Judaism and Christianity,” he added. “Open display of Muslim hate but the police looked on. One law for pro-Palestine activists and Muslims and another for the right wing.”
Some demonstrators at the rally were also seen carrying wooden crosses, in what appeared to be an attempt to frame the rally as a Christian response to Islam and other minority communities.
A different message
A group of activists snuck a large screen into the march displaying messages in support of immigration.
In a video shared by the Led By Donkeys campaign on X, the screen initially showed a Union Jack flag with the words “Unite the Kingdom,” attracting attendees who posed for photos beside it.
Later, the real message was revealed. “Immigration makes Britain brilliant” appeared on the screen, alongside images of British singers, actors, sportspeople, and other public figures from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
Immigration makes Britain brilliant. pic.twitter.com/e2fp48KbfN
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) May 16, 2026
Some men were then seen attempting to climb the LED display truck to switch off the screen as police intervened.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the rally ahead of the protests, describing its organisers as “peddling hatred and division.”
At least 31 arrests were made throughout the day, according to the Metropolitan Police, although authorities did not immediately provide a breakdown linked to each protest.
