Keir Starmer to condemn far-right rhetoric over Tommy Robinson march at London conference
Labour leader to urge against framing the UK as a site of 'violent struggle' as protests linked to immigration policy draw global attention at a summit in London.
Keir Starmer will use a London address on Friday to condemn the rhetoric and tactics surrounding a major protest organized by Tommy Robinson, warning that the language used by some far-right groups risks casting the United Kingdom into a “violent struggle.” In a speech at the Global Progressive Action Conference, the Labour Party leader is expected to describe the march as an example of an “industrialised infrastructure of grievance” and say there could be “difference under the same flag.” He will urge fellow progressive politicians to reject nationalist framing and to confront real-world problems without embracing a hostile or predatory politics.
More than 100,000 people marched through central London in the Unite The Kingdom rally two weeks ago, a demonstration that culminated in clashes and left police officers injured. The event drew attention after former football hooligan-turned-activist Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd, and after Tesla founder Elon Musk made a surprise appearance. The protest coincided with broader tensions over immigration, including campaigns near hotels housing asylum seekers and a countrywide push to spread the flag of St George in some communities. The march’s organizers say their aim was to press for stricter border control and an end to what they describe as illegal immigration; critics framed the event as a rally influenced by nationalist sentiment.
Starmer’s remarks come as he will address fellow world leaders at the conference, which is hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund in partnership with Labour Together and the Institute for Public Policy Research. He is expected to frame the immigration debate as a real-world challenge that requires principled, pragmatic policy making, arguing that “making the case for illegal migration” is not indicative of compassionate left-wing politics. He will urge Labour and other progressive voices to look in the mirror and acknowledge areas where they may have “shied away from people’s concerns.”
The conference will feature appearances by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Starmer expected to contrast a politics of grievance with a vision of “patriotic renewal, rooted in communities, building a better country brick by brick, from the bottom up, including everyone in the national story.” The organizers describe the summit as a forum for centrist and left-leaning leaders to discuss shared priorities, including inclusive economic growth, climate action, and robust but humane immigration policy.
In a separate line of inquiry during the week, Starmer defended London Mayor Sadiq Khan amid controversy sparked by Donald Trump’s characterization of the city. He dismissed Trump’s assertion that London “wants to go to sharia law” as “ridiculous nonsense,” and reiterated support for Khan’s leadership in reducing crime and maintaining an open, diverse city. While declining to engage in a public exchange over whether Trump’s rhetoric was racist or Islamophobic, Starmer emphasized his support for Khan and for London’s status as a diverse, global capital.
The remarks at the conference come amid a broader discussion within Labour about how to respond to nationalism and right-wing agitation, and how to address concerns among working-class voters who feel left behind by global and economic changes. Starmer’s office has indicated that the speech will press for policies that uphold shared national values while acknowledging the real-life concerns of communities affected by immigration and local economic pressures. The summit’s organizers say the aim is to foster cross-party dialogue on progressive solutions to global challenges in an era of rising nationalism and geopolitical tension.