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Closing summary

The Guardian’s live coverage of today’s protests in London is coming to an end.

Organisers said 500,000 people – including politicians, musicians, trade unionists and members of the Together Alliance – turned out for the rally against the far right, though police estimates put the figures at a tenth of that. Here’s a round-up of what happened today:

  • Speaking to the crowd, Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised Reform’s response to the US-Israel war on Iran, as well as telling the crowds that “the tide is turning” on the far right. “There have been dark times. I know people have been scared, and we have been afraid, but days like this are here to send a message, a message to Tommy Robinson, to Nigel Farage, to those who appease them,” he said.

  • The Met Police said they made 25 arrests at the protest. The force said this included 18 people who staged a protest in support of the banned group Palestine Action outside New Scotland Yard. Another two people were arrested for climbing up the National Gallery columns.

  • Members of UB40, the Birmingham reggae band who were active in the anti-fascist campaigns of the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism, attended and spoke at today’s demonstration. The group’s drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech. The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”

  • An estimated 1,000 people joined the event to march against the Christian nationalism promoted by the likes of Tommy Robinson. The Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, told a church service before the demonstration that she stood with “all people of goodwill who seek to build diverse and inclusive communities” and she and other Christians are “committed to building bridges rather than barriers and to living out Jesus’s command to love our neighbours”.

  • A small group of counter-protesters attended the march. They were pictured holding Israeli, American and Iranian lion and sun flags as the march began. Images on social media showed other protesters on the main march holding flags of the current Iranian regime.

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Met police say protests concluded with total of 25 arrests

In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said today’s marches against the far right had finished. It had imposed a ban on the rallies continuing after 5pm.

The post said that in addition to the 18 people arrested for supporting Palestine Action and the two for climbing up the National Gallery columns, there were five other arrests bringing the total to 25.

Images posted on social media showed some protesters carrying flags of the Iranian regime.

In a post on X, journalist Paul Mason said he heard “Zionists go home” chants from what he described as “far left antisemitic groups”. In the post he also said some people were carrying, and in one case selling, the flag of the Iranian regime.

As reported earlier, a small group of counter protesters waved Israeli flags, as well as the pre-1979 revolution Iranian sun and lion flag, which has become a symbol of opposition in the country.

In his speech, Green Party leader Zack Polanski also told the crowd: “The tide is turning, there have been dark times. I know people have been scared, and we have been afraid, but days like this are here to send a message, a message to Tommy Robinson, to Nigel Farage, to those who appease them.

“The message is, when we turn up, in our hundreds, in our thousands, in our hundreds of thousands, we are unstoppable.”

Reform UK's true motives clear to see, Zack Polanski says

Green Party Leader Zack Polanski has criticised Reform UK and Nigel Farage’s response to the US-Israel war on Iran as being an indicator more of the same in his speech at the Together Alliance march.

Polanski said: “People have seen Reform for who they really are. They would have dragged us into this unpopular and illegal war and we say today – this is not in our name, this is not our war!”

Earlier this month, Farage said: “There are differing opinions as to whether we should physically join the attacks. I, as leader, am saying to you, if we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.”

This contrasts with his first public comments after the start of the war, when he said that he was in favour of “regime change” in Iran and told a press conference in Westminster: “We should do all we can to support the operation.”

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Together is an alliance of hundreds of civil society organisations united against the far right.

According to their website, its members represent over 7 million people. Its representatives work as teachers, firefighters, care workers, cleaners, midwives, engineers.

In the lead up to the protest, it’s promo ramped up and that has resulted in such a strong turnout for today’s march.

Here’s a video introducing them:

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Police arrest 18 Palestine Action supporters outside Met headquarters

The Metropolitan police have arrested 18 Palestine Action supporters after announcing on Wednesday that it would resume taking action against those supporting the proscribed organisation.

The force said in a social media post on Saturday afternoon that 18 people are staging a protest in support of the banned group outside New Scotland Yard.

A picture shared on its X account shows the demonstrators sitting on the steps in front of the Westminster building and is accompanied with the caption: “Arrests are now under way outside New Scotland Yard.”

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An estimated 1000 people joined the event to march against Christian nationalism.

The Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, told a church service before the demonstration that she stood with “all people of goodwill who seek to build diverse and inclusive communities” and she and other Christians are “committed to building bridges rather than barriers and to living out Jesus’s command to love our neighbours”.

In December, Tommy Robinson led another “unite the kingdom” event in London, with a carol concert claiming to “put the Christ back into Christmas”.

Earlier this year, a number of Church of England bishops voiced their rejection of “the use of Christian symbols” by people trying to intimidate others, in the face of community anxiety about the flying of St George’s and Union flags.

Updated

Members of UB40, the Birmingham reggae band who were active in the anti-fascist campaigns of the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism, attended and spoke at today’s demonstration.

The group’s drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech.

The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”

He was met with cheers and thanked the crowd, adding: “There are more of us than there is them and I want to thank the organisers here. This has been such an amazing turnout, it’s absolutely incredible.”

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Here’s some aerial footage of the march

Small group of counter-protesters present on route of march

A small group of counter-protesters have attended today’s Together Alliance march in central London.

They were pictured holding Israeli, American and Iranian lion and sun flags as the march began.

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Organisers say half a million are taking part - though police disagree

Getting an accurate picture of the number of people attending a march is always difficult, but today’s organisers say they believe half a million people have gathered in London.

Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall:

Our estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.

The Met Police say their initial estimate is more like 50,000 people. They concede, however, that it is hard to get an accurate number as marchers are so dispersed throughout central London.

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Here’s the Guardian’s Robyn Vinter with Woody, dressed as Big Oil…

At the march

Attendees have brought out some of their best costumes, including Jesus and the grim reaper.

Woody, part of a group called Cut The Ties to Fossil Fuels, who was inside the grim reaper costume told the Guardian he had come “dressed as Big Oil”.

“Big Oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he said. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.

“Big Oil’s tentacles reach across through many industries, and it’s those enablers of the fossil fuel industry that, as a movement, Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, target those enablers.”

He added: “I’m mid-fifties now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven’t heard since I was in school.”

Woody said it was important to unite on the left and work together, which is something the right tend to do well “despite having massive differences”.

“It’s a numbers game in a way. This is really important to send a message. So I’m really excited about being here today and being part of a much bigger thing.”

Plenty of other environmental groups are also present.

The red rebels, from Extinction Rebellion, walked silently in the opposite direction to the march with white painted faces and red robes. They said they were drawing attention to climate change.

A reminder for those attending, police have imposed public order conditions banning today’s marches from continuing after 5pm.

Interactive

Updated

More pictures are coming in now that really show the scale of the march:

There are a number of notable politicians and activists across the progressive left engaging in today’s march. Green party leader Zack Polanski is expected to speak, while attendees are expecting to hear from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Labour MP Dawn Butler, as well as trade union leaders.

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At the march

There are crowds as far as the eye can see along Park Lane, with people of all ages and demographics taking part in the march.

A cacophony of chanting, whistling and drum banging can be heard among the thousands gathered here.

A group from Leicester Stand Up to Racism is shouting: “No borders, no nations, stop deportations!”

Others carry signs reading, “You cannot divide us”, “refugees are welcome here” and “this world belongs to everyone”.

Robyn Vinter is north of England correspondent at the Guardian

Updated

Some protesters have spoken to PA earmarking opposition to Reform UK, support for Palestine and anti-racism as drivers for their attendance.

Paige Horsford, 34, a media and English teacher from New Romney, Kent, said she joined the Together march because she has witnessed racist incidents at her school.

She said: “This is my 10th year teaching, and it’s certainly the worst it’s ever been.

“Especially after the unite the kingdom rally in September, we had issues in our school surrounding that rally.

“Our kids’ parents had been, and then (pupils) were thinking that they could have free licence to be abusive in classrooms.”

Horsford said pupils had been imitating accents and making “inappropriate” comments, with young people blaming migrants for the country’s ills.

Crawford Logan, 76, from Stirling, Scotland, said he wanted to support both the protest against the far right, and the pro-Palestine march taking place today.

He said: “There is a kind of dual purpose to this: there’s this march about the far right, but there’s also the Stop the War coalition as well, so you’ve got two major events on, and they are in parallel I think with the No Kings protests that are going on in the States today.

“And of course, it’s just very dangerous times.”

Asked whether he is worried about the rise of Reform UK as a political force, Logan said: “Absolutely. The people that think that Reform is the answer are not cottoning on to the fact that it’s actually just old Tories in disguise, and it’s still the same wealthy people who are stripping the country bare, and people who are being stripped bare still think that Reform is the answer.”

Together rally leader hopes to have deterred far-right

Co-organiser of Saturday’s event, Sabby Dhalu, who is joint secretary of the Together Alliance and co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism, said the UK is seeing an “unprecedented growth” in support for far-right organisations.

“We believe that the majority of British people stand against the hatred and division and racism that was being encouraged at that demonstration and by these types of organisations, and it’s time to act.”

Saturday’s event – featuring a march, speeches on Whitehall and a music event in Trafalgar Square – comes seven months on from the Unite the Kingdom rally.

That demonstration – organised by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – was attended by more than 100,000 people, while about 5,000 were involved in an anti-racism counter-demonstration.

There were several incidents of violent disorder which left some police officers injured.

Asked if she was concerned about potential counter-protests and disorder, Dhalu said: “We’re not worried about anything like that today. We haven’t had any intelligence about anything like that is being planned.

“We’re confident that the size of our mobilisation here today has actually intimidated the far-right, and I think they feel that they are not confident enough to stand against us because they know that we’re going to be out in big numbers.”

Dhalu said protestors have “no reason” not to abide by conditions put in place by the Metropolitan Police, adding that it will be a “peaceful” demonstration.

Updated

The first round of images are coming through from the march, which is expected to have a strong union presence.

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Map of route for Together Alliance march

Here’s a map of the route for today’s Together Alliance march.

Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, finishing on Whitehall, with police expecting all rallies to conclude by 5pm.

Interactive

Those in power using racism to 'feather own nests', head of NEU says

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said those in power have been using racism to “feather their own nests”, as he criticised Keir Starmer’s comments around immigration.

In May last year, the prime minister said the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers”, in a speech about immigration.

Kebede said before the Together Alliance rally against the far-right on Saturday: “What we have seen – in the age of Trump in particular – is those in power using racism to feather their own nests, whether it’s Donald Trump, whether it’s Nigel Farage.

“And what’s even worse is we’ve seen the Prime Minister, instead of taking it on, tail-end it with the ‘island of strangers’ nonsense that he pedalled last year.”

He added: “The toxic climate that is taking place in society festers into schools. We’re seeing an increase in racist incidents, whether that’s directed towards teachers and support staff, or pupil-on-pupil, so it’s incredibly difficult at the moment.”

Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance has said shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy would have been “sacked” for his comments about Muslim public prayer if he had made them 10 years ago.

Earlier this month, the Conservative MP described Muslim public prayer as an “act of domination and decision”, referring to an open Iftar event held in Trafalgar Square.

Courtney said: “Nick Timothy, who is a frontbencher for the Conservative Party, criticised the Muslim community, said they were taking over Trafalgar Square when they were having an Iftar event… they were praying as part of that.

“All faiths use Trafalgar Square. The idea that Nick Timothy picks on one particular community, and criticise it, demonises it, I would say… it’s disturbing that those ideas have cut into the mainstream.

“10 years ago, he would have been sacked from the Tory frontbench for saying that. He’s not being sacked now, so we are disturbed by the growth of far-right ideas across the mainstream, as well as in the particular expressions, like Tommy Robinson.”

Meanwhile, in the US, millions of Americans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday for the No Kings protests against the Trump administration.

The protests, which have no connection to the demonstrations taking place in the UK, will be led by a coalition of organisers that includes “anti-authoritarian” groups Indivisible and 50501, labor unions and other grassroots organisations.

More than 3,000 events are planned in all 50 states, plus in 16 countries.

Saturday’s protest will be the third No Kings; the last one in October drew 7 million people nationwide.

Protesters are expected to turn out on the basis of a multitude of issues, organisers said, from ICE raids to voting rights threats.

“Since the last No Kings, we’re seeing higher gas prices and groceries, all while there’s an illegal war in Iran,” said Sarah Parker, the executive director of Voices of Florida and a national coordinator for the 50501 movement. “The people of America are pissed.”

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Who are the Together Alliance?

Dozens of coaches will leave from across the country on Saturday morning – including 10 from Manchester alone – to begin marching from Park Lane to Trafalgar Square at midday but who are Together Alliance?

From musicians including Brian Eno and Self Esteem to actors including Christopher Eccleston and Maxine Peake, the breadth of support reflects a familiar pattern in British protest movements – moments when politics spills into culture, and vice versa, and a chance for people to demonstrate their progressive values.

The anti-discrimination group Stand Up to Racism are members of the alliance and Sabby Dhalu, a co-convener, has said the Together Alliance’s formation was a direct reaction to growing far-right sentiment espoused in last September’s “unite the kingdom” demonstration.

Dhalu said: “The overwhelming majority of people reject the racism, Islamophobia, division, hatred and violence promoted by Tommy Robinson and the far right.

“This Saturday we will demonstrate that clearly. Tens of thousands will take to the streets of central London, bringing the same spirit of unity that helped bring the racist riots of 2024 to a halt.”

Two stages – one on Whitehall for speeches and one in Trafalgar Square for music, which are both free to attend – will feature cross-party speakers and award-winning musicians, including Self Esteem, Jessie Ware, Katy B, Joy Crookes, UB40, Fontaines DC, the Charlatans and Hot Chip.

Billy Bragg said that the “politics of division” could be countered when people came together, and he expected the turnout to exceed that of the “unite the kingdom” rally.

In case you missed it, the context of today’s march was discussed in our First edition newsletter

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Met will have 'significant policing presence' as part of plan for weekend protests

The Metropolitan police have said there will be a “significant policing presence” in Westminster on Saturday with a number of large protests expected.

In addition to the marches organised by the Together Alliance and the Palestine Coalition, a number of protests against the Iranian regime – both static assemblies and marches – are due to take place in the Westminster area on both Saturday and Sunday.

The force said they have used conditions under the public order act to ensure only rally areas that have been agreed in advance are used and to set fixed routes that must be followed and to determine required end times.

Dispersal zones will be in place if people gather in places away from the agreed form up locations that cause disruption or harassment and intimidation.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is in charge of the policing operation this weekend, said: “This is going to be a busy weekend for our officers but we have detailed plans in place to ensure all groups protesting this weekend can do so lawfully and without causing serious disruption to other Londoners, businesses or visitors.”

“I am mindful that it is less than a week since the appalling arson attack in Golders Green which will only have compounded already heightened fears in the Jewish community.

“We take these fears seriously and have carefully considered them in our planning, balancing them as we are required to do against the rights of others to lawful protest.”

Hundreds of thousands expected to gather in London for march against far right

Good morning. Hundreds of thousands of people are to turn out in central London to support what is expected to be the biggest multicultural march in UK history on Saturday.

Scotland Yard said there will be a significant police presence in the capital on Saturday as two large marches will converge in Westminster.

One march, followed by speeches and musical performances, is organised by the Together Alliance and is said to have the support of celebrities including comedian Sir Lenny Henry and singer Paloma Faith, although neither are expected to be present.

Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, finishing on Whitehall, while a music event will also take place in Trafalgar Square featuring artists including former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition will form up at the southern end of Exhibition Road from midday, marching towards Hyde Park Corner where the demonstrators will turn onto Piccadilly, joining the route of the Together Alliance before the groups form up for a rally on Whitehall.

A video message from London mayor Sadiq Khan will be played to those gathered at the Whitehall stage and the leader of the Green party Zack Polanski is expected to make a speech.

The musician, Billy Bragg told the Guardian on Friday participants hoped to “send out a message to our fellow citizens that we are willing to take a stand against [the politics of hate] being imported into the UK”.