PHILIP PATRICK
100,000, 150,000, 500,000, a million, three million? An estimate of the size of the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally in central London on Saturday is evidently challenging, perhaps impossible. (All these figures have been claimed somewhere.) The drone footage looks like a CGI representation of a massed army from Lord of the Rings. Then there are the at least one-and-a-half million who were following events on livestreams. But does the figure really matter? Suffice to say the numbers who were there, and those that would have liked to have been there, were extraordinary – historic even – and far surpassed the expectations of the police or the mainstream media. A better question might be: what does it all mean?
I was there for much of it. So packed did it become that I had to almost fight my way out. (I had a train to catch.) This was a bit of a problem as the police had sealed off most of Whitehall making it very hard to leave. The idea seemed to be to create empty buffer zones to prevent confrontations with rival protestors. Fair enough perhaps, but the cordoned-off area was simply too small, leading to gridlock and a certain amount of panic. I only got out after feigning a heart problem and claiming my wife was on the other side of the thin blue line with my medication. My Oscar-worthy performance worked, testament to what I found was the overall reasonableness of the police.
But they were close to being overwhelmed at times and one take-away message from the day is that the authorities underestimated the breadth and depth of feeling of people in UK who oppose the direction the country seems to be taking. The rally was called ‘Unite the Kingdom’ and the proliferation of Union Jacks, flags of St George, Saltires and Welsh Dragons evidenced the UK-wide appeal of this event – not just how frustrated people feel, but a renewed spirit of Unionism, too.
The number of crosses and placards proclaiming Jesus Christ our saviour was, to me at least, surprising. “Jesus is King” was chanted from the stage at one point. How real this is (is Tommy Robinson a regular churchgoer?) is questionable but it certainly added a flavour to the proceedings and reinforced the mood of a people striving for a higher, better, ancient authority to appeal to. Proselytisers handed out literature and if they didn’t seem to be making too many converts, they were welcomed nevertheless.
The mood, if it can be summarised, was not angry or aggressive, just defiant, determined and resolutely patriotic. I would summarise it thus: “We are British and proud of it. We quite like our little island and don’t want it transformed. We are sick of being smeared and caricatured, censored and silenced.” If the crowds might not be called diverse – though there were people of every skin pigmentation – no one appeared excluded, accept, perhaps, Sir Keir Starmer, who is loathed. I even bumped into Piers Corbyn and had a brief chat to him about climate change. Interesting that this old Leftie should see potential for scepticism in this crowd of supposed ‘far-Right bigots’.
Almost no party political figures seemed to be present (Ben Habib excepted), not from the UK anyway, and interest in traditional politics seemed lacking. Advance UK had a couple of stalls, I saw one UKIP banner, one “Farage for PM” placard, but of Reform as a party virtually nothing. They were no doubt keeping their distance from what many will depict as an unsavoury manifestation of extremism, but I didn’t detect much enthusiasm for or interest in the bookies’ favourite for our next PM.
And what of Tommy Robinson? He arrived over Blackfriars Bridge within the main body of the endless march enclosed within a phalanx of bodyguards and flanked, apparently, by Katie Hopkins and Laurence Fox. I nearly bumped into him at one point, which brought me up short. I had almost wondered whether Tommy Robinson was real. Such is his mystique that he seemingly exists as much in the imagination or YouTube as in the flesh, a liminal character like Ned Ludd, Watt Tyler, Jack Cade or Robin Hood.
Whoever or whatever Robinson is, he was clearly idolised by a substantial section of the crowd. But not, I suspect, by all. One of the benefits of actually being there is that you can judge to what extent the generalisations of the mainstream media were borne out. The Tommy chant was struck up a number of times, but never quite took general hold. I could be wrong but I sensed there were many who chose to keep a little distance between the main man and the general themes of the day. Whatever else yesterday was, it would be wrong to characterise it as ‘Tommy-fest’.
Those themes were love of country, of British culture, a rejection of mainstream politics and mainstream media, and a resolute defence of free speech. Charlie Kirk was appropriately memorialised and there were huge cheers for Elon Musk who appeared via a video link to speak with Robinson. Musk spoke of his love of the UK and desire to see it stand up for its core values. Robinson thanked him for his acquisition of Twitter and opening up the global debate. The mainstream media were hardly mentioned at all, which speaks not just to the contempt most there feel towards them but their growing irrelevance to large sections of society.
Were there bad elements? Plenty certainly had the look. There were some rough-looking muscle-bound men, skinheads, all-body tattoos, military garb, lager in hand. Aesthetically you can understand why many jump to the conclusion that at least some of Tommy Robinson’s followers are undesirables – particularly when they are told so over and over again by the mainstream media. For the most part, though, I’d agree with the estimable Trevor Philips who described the attendees as “the sort of people you would meet in a country pub”.
🚨Sky News DELETES post of Trevor Phillips commentary monologue on the “Unite the Kingdom” march yesterday. (saved) pic.twitter.com/uasuiBxHJ1
— banthebbc 𝕏 (@banthebbc) September 14, 2025
I saw no trouble whatsoever, but there were apparently 25 arrests on Saturday and a similar number of police were injured when Unite the Kingdom came close to clashing with an ‘anti-fascist’ group. It’s not clear exactly what happened or how many of the arrested were counter-protesters or indeed what exactly the injuries amounted to. By way of reference, there were 528 arrests at the Notting Hill Carnival this year.
More out of curiosity than anything else, I watched the BBC report of the rally that evening. It focused almost entirely on the one (that I know of) ugly confrontation which it seemed to be suggesting characterised the whole event and everyone there. The reporter looked a little dazed and demoralised, perhaps overwhelmed by the scale of the event or vaguely guilty about the partiality of his own reporting. He mouthed the orthodox complaints of ‘far-Right’ violence but his demeanour suggested acquiescence to a deeper truth: that what happened yesterday in Whitehall and what it signifies cannot be so easily defined or so easily dismissed.
Philip Patrick is a freelance journalist.
Stop Press: In the Times, Trevor Phillips warns politicians and journalists that they dismiss the Unite the Kingdom march at their “peril”. “Calling this movement the product of extremist rabble-rousers will no longer do. Mainstream politicians must wake up.”
This article (What I Saw at the Unite the Kingdom Rally) was created and published by The Daily Sceptic and is republished here under “Fair Use” with attribution to the author Guy de la Bédoyère
See Related Article Below
UNITE THE KINGDOM: THE LONDON MARCH
PAUL SUTTON
London yesterday saw me in attendance, with friends from Free Speech Backlash. We met by Blackfriars Bridge, where the crowds were enormous. The official estimate of 150,000 is for Whitehall and those watching the stage. The whole of central London was packed, over Westminster Bridge, up Stamford Street and back over Blackfriars Bridge, and beyond. Just doing a very rough calculation, that multiplies it by about 5 to 10. Also around Waterloo Station.
And look at the crime figures above, for Saturday! Of the 25 arrests, a policeman told me 16 were from the counter-demonstrators, whose numbers were about 5,000. Even of we accept the 150,000 number, that makes the crime rate amongst the Unite the Kingdom 1 in 17,000. And for the ‘peaceful pro-immigration’ crowd? 1 in 300. Which makes the latter group more than 50 times as violent! Yet guess which group hasn’t had headlines about it, condemning their violence?
I’d say the total attendance was 750,000 minimum, 1.5 million maximum: so a low estimate is 1 million. The numbers game is interesting. The police definitely said 1 – 2 million, on Saturday, then it was changed dramatically down. Now they’re saying it couldn’t possibly be near to a million, due to street capacities – widths etc. And the MSM are slavishly repeating this, whilst also reminding that ‘over a million attended the 2003 Iraq war marches.’
But The Guardian (of all papers) were originally claiming over a million for Unite the Kingdom. And here’s why, from their aerial footage, below. Note it doesn’t include Whitehall, Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge. Nor Blackfriars Bridge, then further back!
And here’s Westminster Bridge:
Note, the BBC claim about 100,000! And their articles find time to interview some of the maybe 5,000 counter-demonstrators (I saw none) but nobody on the march. I guess we’re all right-wing thugs! But I spoke to dozens and not one said anything racist. Five things were very obvious:
- A loathing for Islam, with most stressing this didn’t mean hating Muslims.
- An incredible number of younger people who’d ‘found God’ and were carrying wooden crosses. I’m culturally a Christian but a reluctant atheist. One young father (of 25) explained he’d started attending, since there was ‘nothing else to believe in and give meaning’. Ditto for this march?
- The huge number of Welsh, Scottish and Irish – often joining in with the ‘England’ chants. And singing ‘Jerusalem’. I had a long chat with a delightful ex-Scottish Nationalist, who felt the issue had obliterated intra-British differences, in the face of some external threat.
- The conspicuous good-humour and politeness, especially as so many families, children, veterans and old people were there. At 61, I myself was creeping into that category, and had many younger types asking if I was ok: I kept getting cramp from all the standing around (see later for the relevance of this).
- The constant reek of dope.
There were many black and Asian attendees too, most showing signs of being Christian. It’s true there were also some obvious ‘football lads’ but all polite, if not (thankfully) the types you’d see in Waitrose; nor will you see me there! I witnessed no yobbery at all, just moderate drunkenness.
The most common discussion was on why we were there. Most said they had to be, to meet others who felt the same and because a free-speech and two-tier tipping point had been reached. The slaughter of Charlie Kirk provided the final push, especially in many left-wing reactions to it.
We set off from The Mad Hatter, Stamford Street at 11:30 and it took two hours to get to Westminster Bridge. Mostly standing still, as the police were allegdly preventing people leaving the other end. I’m not sure that’s true but without doubt the frustration was deliberate, to thin out crowds.
What a drenching on Westminster Bridge! But it wasn’t blocked – just jammed – and I got through past Parliament into Whitehall. I’m sure the people turning back had been told misinformation: many people said they’d seen this going on. It was quite easy after that to get near the stage, for Tommy Robinson speaking at 3pm. Best speaker was the little girl who wore the Union Dress and the Danish chap – plus loads of other visitors from abroad. Ben Habib was also especially good, on how all mainstream politicians were boycotting the event. He’d been scolded for attending – ‘why are you going?’ when the real question was – ‘why aren’t most MPs here?’.
Two very interesting things:
1) TR was told late on Thurs that the speeches etc were all cancelled, Westminster Council withdrew the performance licence. He had frantic meetings with Met, explaining this was being done to ensure aggro, as millions would still turn up. The Met overruled the Council, agreeing with him.
2) Robinson also revealed he is ‘de-banked’ by every bank and building society in the UK. Incredible – this is a basic human necessity, and banks allow accounts even for serial killers and Labour MPs (the groups overlap).
Most police were notably friendly and one said to me: ‘Well done!’. TR reported their words, that behaviour had been exemplary. But I saw some police (about 6.30pm) in Trafalgar Square seemingly trying to provoke/allow clashes with the counter-demonstrators. Interestingly, a different looking lot, in ‘Territorial Support Group’ vehicles. This is the trouble that’s made the news. I guess someone in the Home Office was pissed off at the lack of trouble – in marked contrast to the ‘mostly peaceful’ violence routinely seen (and tolerated) at BLM and Hamas marches in London.
The ‘Anti Racists’ were a few thousand, and treated like royalty by the police. Some of the ‘Territorial Support Group’ were engineering a confrontation. I walked past the southern edge of Nelson’s Column, and a huge number of them (also standing in The Strand) seemed to be following some plan, confronting a few flag wavers.
I stood and watched for a few minutes. It was obvious police were on some co-ordinated operation, from their use of sheets and walkie-talkies. The odd thing was how I couldn’t seen any Antifa at all; indeed, I saw none the whole day. Not at any station, nor on the streets, nor in any pub or cafe. I’m convinced they were being ferried around.
I also spoke to an elderly chap who’d seen some pushing and shoving at the Parliament Square end of Westminster Bridge, about 2:30pm. Out of the blue, a new policeman appeared and punched someone full out. This assailant then rapidly vanished, before people even grasped what had happened.
No riot erupted but this seems to have been some planned action, by a few ‘specialist’ police. The elderly witness could have been lying, but seemed very moderate and totally believable.
After the event finished, with a black Gospel Choir singing, I eventually made my way to the legendary Ship and Shovel, under the arches (or near) at Charing Cross, for several pints! Packed with fascinating characters, a group from Epping who’d been in the thick of the hotel protests – with cell-phone clips. The police dragging people off were dressed – and had vehicles – identical to the ones I’d seen in Trafalgar Square.
On the train back from Paddington, I chatted for ages to a delightful pair of Ethiopian sisters, who were Evangelical! They were fascinated by the rally and beaming at how Christian it was. The elderly one tried to convert me, claiming our meeting was pre-ordained! We’d met because I started sympathising with her about the terrible attack of cramp she came down with, entering the carriage.
The Lord moves in mysterious ways, for sure…
But I had to gently assure her that I was still a sinner – doubtless to some, I’m a far-right maniac!
This article (UNITE THE KINGDOM: THE LONDON MARCH) was created and published by Paul Sutton and is republished here under “Fair Use”
••••
The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! But we must also be practical. For 7 years we have not asked for any donations, and have built this project with our own funds as we grew. We are now experiencing ever increasing growing pains due to the large number of websites and projects we represent. So we have just installed donation buttons on our websites and ask that you consider this when you visit them. Nothing is too small. We thank you for all your support and your considerations … (TLB)
••••
Comment Policy: As a privately owned web site, we reserve the right to remove comments that contain spam, advertising, vulgarity, threats of violence, racism, or personal/abusive attacks on other users. This also applies to trolling, the use of more than one alias, or just intentional mischief. Enforcement of this policy is at the discretion of this websites administrators. Repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without prior warning.
••••
Disclaimer: TLB websites contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of “fair use” in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, health, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than “fair use” you must request permission from the copyright owner.
••••
Disclaimer: The information and opinions shared are for informational purposes only including, but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material are not intended as medical advice or instruction. Nothing mentioned is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Liberty Beacon Project.
So Starmer lies, the BBC lies, the police lie – WHY?