Starmer slams 'poison on full display' at Tommy Robinson march, warns of far-right 'violent struggle'

Keir Starmer used a high-profile platform to condemn the demonstrations led by Tommy Robinson, portraying the protest as a stark display of “poison” that he said feeds a narrative of a nation in a coming, violent struggle. The remarks, aimed at a broader audience of progressive politicians, come as Starmer prepares to address the Global Progressive Action Conference in London, where he will share the stage with international figures such as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The march through central London drew tens of thousands and culminated in a scene that Starmer characterized as both intimidating and inflammatory. He has linked the event to an industrialized infrastructure of grievance that, in his view, exploits real-world problems such as border control and the shadow economy, while suggesting that some protesters used language that was “naked in its attempt to intimidate.” He underscored the belief that there could be “difference under the same flag,” insisting the UK must resist politicized calls for a national clash and instead pursue inclusive reform.

! Keir Starmer at event

Starmer’s address, slated for Friday, centers on immigration and public concern over border policy. He is expected to argue that left-leaning politicians must confront real-world problems rather than retreat from sensitive topics, asserting that advocating for illegal migration can be misread as compassionate politics only if it rejects practical, enforceable policies. He is anticipated to tell campaigners and policymakers assembled at the conference that progressive politics should be unapologetic about border-control measures while remaining committed to humane treatment and opportunity for migrants.

The British prime minister contends that left-wing figures have to face the consequences of policy choices in communities affected by migration and labor markets. He has framed the debate as a choice between a politics of predatory grievance and a “patriotic renewal” rooted in local communities and collective national rebuilding, brick by brick, from the bottom up and including everyone in the national story. The conference is hosted in part by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, along with Labour-themed think tanks, including Labour Together and the Institute for Public Policy Research, signaling a transatlantic exchange of strategies on progressive governance.

The speech comes amid a broader political moment in which recent protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers and campaigns promoting the flag of St George have fueled national conversations about immigration and security. Starmer’s team has emphasized the need to separate lawful protest from tactics designed to intimidate or inflame prejudice, insisting that national unity does not require surrendering the practicality of border controls or the protection of workers’ wages and labor standards.

In discussing the tone of the debate around law and order, Starmer has repeatedly framed the issue in terms of balancing compassion with common-sense policy. He has argued that “it is not compassionate left-wing politics to rely on labor that exploits foreign workers and undercuts fair wages,” while also warning against any political strategy that treats all migrants as a problem to be expelled rather than a complex social phenomenon to be managed with clear rules and fair processes. He has suggested that a healthy immigration policy can coexist with a robust social contract that benefits all citizens and lawful residents.

The prime minister also weighed in on comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Starmer dismissed Trump’s assertion that London “wants to go to sharia law” as “ridiculous nonsense” and defended London Mayor Sadiq Khan against Trump’s criticisms, saying Khan has been “driving down serious crime” and that he would not engage in a public war of words with Trump. When asked if he would raise the issue directly with Trump in future talks, Starmer said he would have a frank, issue-focused conversation, but emphasized pride in Khan’s leadership and the city’s diversity.

Asked whether he agreed with Khan that Trump is racist, sexist, and Islamophobic, Starmer declined to escalate into a personal or partisan confrontation, reiterating support for London’s diverse leadership while focusing his conference remarks on constructive, policy-driven responses to immigration, security, and economic opportunity. He suggested that progressive politicians should confront fears and misinformation with facts, evidence, and a clear national narrative that welcomes legitimate migrants while safeguarding labor standards and social cohesion.

As Starmer frames the next phase of his political message, the question for many observers will be whether the conference—set against a backdrop of global leaders and a U.K. public that's increasingly focused on immigration policy—will translate into tangible shifts in policy or political strategy. The conference proceedings, anchored by think tanks and international guests, are expected to outline a roadmap for progressive governance that seeks to unite communities around shared economic and social goals, even as populist and nationalist voices continue to contest the terms of national belonging.