Mixed Reactions to London Unite Rally

The huge Unite the Kingdom rally in London led by Tommy Robinson has received mixed reactions from people in the area.

The Unite the Kingdom rally in London, led by Tommy Robinson, sparked mixed reactions from locals. Dubbed a 'free speech festival', it attracted a massive crowd, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 attendees, despite official figures suggesting 110,000 to 150,000.

At least 25 people were arrested during the event, which saw minor clashes with police. Photographer Paul King from Winnersh critiqued the police's heavy-handed tactics, stating, "The riot coppers were quite hungry for it... I saw officers from West Mercia and armed police. It was the biggest demonstration I've seen, like the poll tax riots, with flags and singing everywhere." He noted a perceived two-tier policing approach.

While Robinson claimed Westminster Council initially revoked the rally's licence, it proceeded following negotiations with the Met Police. The event faced backlash, labelled as 'far right' and 'fascist', coinciding with a counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism, which drew 20,000 participants.

Among the speakers were prominent right-wing figures and a remote address from Elon Musk. Attendees included international guests, such as Australian-Israeli commentator Avi Yemini and a group from Destiny Church in New Zealand who performed a Maori haka. Local political reactions included a Labour Councillor's concerns about public perceptions of attendees, leading to a civil discussion invite from a Green party candidate.

In a Daily Express column, former Conservative MP Sir John Redwood condemned violence but urged the government to address the concerns raised by peaceful demonstrators.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter