British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday condemned the assaults on police during the far-right anti-immigration rally in central London, stressing that Britain is built on tolerance and diversity.
According to the Metropolitan Police, 26 officers were injured during the “Unite the Kingdom” march in central London on Saturday, including some seriously hurt after being punched, kicked, and hit by bottles. There were initially 25 arrests with more expected as investigations continue. Police reinforcements equipped with helmets and riot shields were brought in to support over 1,000 officers already on duty.
Starmer emphasised that while the right to peaceful protest is central to the country’s democratic values, violence against police officers carrying out their duty is unacceptable.
Britain’s Identity Rests On Tolerance, Diversity And Respect: PM Starmer
Starmer criticised the “Unite the Kingdom” march, saying Britain’s identity rests on tolerance, diversity, and respect, and stressed that the national flag represents unity, not a tool for spreading fear, division, or violence.
“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values. But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin. Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division,” he said in a post on X.
Unite The Kingdom March
More than 100,000 people took part in the “Unite the Kingdom” march in central London on Saturday. The event was led by far-right anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson and saw chants of anti-immigration slogans and waves of nationalist flags. The demonstration turned violent when some of Robinson’s supporters clashed with police officers trying to separate them from counterprotesters. About 5,000 counterprotesters staged a rival demonstration organized by the anti-racism group Stand Up To Racism (SUTR)
