A protester holds a placard from behind banners as people gather after pro-Palestinian and anti-far right protesters took part in marches, at a rally organised by the Together Alliance and the Palestine Coalition in central London. AFP
The rally, organized by the Together Alliance and joined by a separate pro-Palestinian march, brought together trade unions, anti-racism groups, faith organizations, and campaigners from across the United Kingdom in a show of unity against what they called a growing far-right threat.
Carrying placards reading “fight ignorance not immigrants”, “reject racist lies” and “you cannot divide us”, demonstrators began gathering from early afternoon before marching from Park Lane and Marble Arch towards Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, where speeches and performances were held, according to BBC and AFP.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it was difficult to provide an accurate estimate due to the scale and spread of the crowds, putting attendance at around 50,000, while organisers said as many as 500,000 people may have taken part.
The protest comes six months after one of Britain’s largest far-right rallies led by activist Tommy Robinson, which drew tens of thousands to the capital and was marred by clashes with police.
Saturday’s march also took place weeks ahead of key local and regional elections, with the hard-right Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage expected to perform strongly after leading in opinion polls for over a year.
Participants said they were motivated by concerns over rising anti-immigration rhetoric and what they described as an increasingly hostile political climate.
“There’s a global toxic climate and the UK is not fighting it,” student Emily Roth, 23, told AFP. “We’re seeing racist incidents every day and it’s not being dealt with. The government is obsessed with immigration but that’s not our biggest problem.”
Others echoed similar concerns. Robert Gadwick, 48, who travelled from Bath, said he was “worried” about the rise of Reform UK.
“We’ve been there with Brexit — it’s all the same lies and yet some people decide to believe it,” he said. “We need to speak the truth… voting for Reform is a vote for more chaos and more uncertainty.”
Retiree Rose Batterfield said she was unsettled by what she saw as a shift in mainstream political discourse.
“The idea that you can implement far-right ideas in order to stop the far right is nonsense,” she said, criticising what she described as a hardening stance on immigration.
A pro-Palestinian march organised separately joined the main demonstration along its route, amplifying turnout and linking domestic concerns about racism with international issues.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags alongside anti-racism banners, with many framing their participation as part of a broader struggle against discrimination and injustice. Quds News Network described the mobilisation as one of the largest demonstrations in British history, combining support for Palestine with opposition to the far right.
The convergence of the two marches underscored the wide coalition behind the protest, which organisers said represented millions of people through affiliated groups.
Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of the Together Alliance, warned of what she described as an “unprecedented growth” in support for far-right organisations in Britain.
“We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism… and it’s time to act,” she said.
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