London rally draws tens of thousands as debate over Britishness and free speech deepens

Thousands packed central London last weekend for Unite the Kingdom, a rally led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, with police estimating between 110,000 and 150,000 attendees — far above authorities' early estimates. The crowd carried a banner reading "Remigration Now" as the march moved through central London toward Westminster.

Authorities said eight people had been charged after disorder during the protests and 24 were initially arrested for a range of offences. Opponents and supporters intersected as the day included a Hope Not Hate counter-protest; accounts described a family-like atmosphere in parts, while others warned of rising tensions.

BBC News tracked more than 700 attendees who contacted Your Voice Your BBC News about why they went. Among those who reached out were Suzanne and Sam Philpott from South Wales, who traveled nearly 200 miles to London with two small coaches from their village pub, The Flying Pig.

Suzanne said she attended the event believing in freedom of speech; she described the atmosphere as "a family festival," and said the march was important for future generations.

Sam said he went not because he supported Robinson personally but because he saw people as "standing up for being British" and because the government is detached from ordinary working people. He argued the working man should be prioritized when prices are high and rents are through the roof.

Other attendees described the rally as nationalism rather than race; a Dorset respondent described it as a chance for "normal British people" who are unhappy with the country's direction, while a Kent attendee said the rally was full of families.

A Portsmouth resident told BBC that Robinson was saying the right things, and no one was listening except him, but a British Muslim man who emailed the BBC said many migrants had already experienced civil wars and that "seeing this hate against my children is very alarming."

Police said eight people had been charged after disorder and 24 were arrested initially for a range of offences. The rallies have raised concerns about a deepening divide in society between those worried about the cost of living and immigration and those worried about divisive language and its real-life consequences.

Sam Rowe, a counter-protester of mixed-race heritage, said the atmosphere at the counter-protest was tense and that he heard racist language at times at the rally. He emphasized that the majority of attendees were not necessarily racist, but that the leaders used racist rhetoric and that it made him feel unsafe at times.

Analysts from British Future and More in Common have found that Robinson's core support has not grown in more than a decade, but his visibility has increased, drawing in others who are unsettled. The events are prompting questions about national identity and the boundaries of free speech in Britain.

The BBC notes that additional reporting by Sadaf Maruf explores how those tensions are playing out across the country, reflecting a broader global discussion about nationalism, belonging, and free speech.