Starmer: Britain Will “Never Surrender” Its Flag to Far-Right Violence

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged that Britain will “never surrender” its national flag to far-right protesters who use it as a symbol of division, following one of the country’s largest far-right demonstrations in decades.

On Saturday, more than 110,000 people joined a march through central London against immigration, led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon). Clashes broke out with police, leaving 26 officers injured and at least 24 protesters arrested, according to the Metropolitan Police.

In his first response to the unrest, Starmer stressed the importance of peaceful protest but condemned the violence and intimidation witnessed on London’s streets.

“Peaceful protest is a core value of our democracy,” Starmer said. “But we will not tolerate assaults on police officers or intimidation of people because of their background or skin colour. Our flag stands for tolerance, diversity, and respect—we will never surrender it to those who misuse it for fear and division.”

Far-Right Leaders Escalate Rhetoric

The rally featured inflammatory speeches from high-profile far-right figures across Europe. Robinson described immigration as an “orchestrated invasion,” while French politician Eric Zemmour and Belgian MP Filip Dewinter pushed the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, with Dewinter declaring: “Islam is our real enemy.”

Other speakers included politicians from Denmark, Germany, and Poland, alongside Tesla CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk, who appeared via video link urging protesters to “fight back” against the UK government.

The demonstration was also marked by violence, with bottles thrown at mounted police officers and baton charges used to separate far-right protesters from around 5,000 counterdemonstrators.

Condemnation from Police and Civil Groups

Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Matt Twist called the violence against officers “wholly unacceptable.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that anyone engaging in criminal acts would “face the full force of the law.”

Antifascist campaign group Hope Not Hate described the rally as “extremely disturbing,” warning that the normalisation of anti-migrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric signals “dark times to come” if not addressed.

The violence follows a recent surge in far-right activity across Britain, including arson attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers. Experts warn that conspiracy theories, xenophobia, and online disinformation are fuelling unrest and threatening social cohesion.

For Starmer, the message was clear: Britain’s identity lies in unity and diversity—not in hate-filled extremism.