Counter demonstrators hold banner saying ‘Stop Nigel Farage’
People taking part in an counter demonstration in central London today has been seen standing behind a ‘Stop Nigel Farage’ banner.
The Reform UK party leader was elected as an MP for Clacton earlier this year.
Breaking: Met Police arrest two men on suspicion of GBH
In pictures: Counter demonstrators and Trans Pride march make their way through London
Jeremy Corbyn: ‘We want a more equal, inclusive society’
Earlier today former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gave a speech at the anti-racist counter protest in Russell Square. Here’s some of what he said.
Our campaign is – yes to oppose racism in any form – but it is also for a more decent a more equal, inclusive society that gives hope to all people in all circumstances.
Over the last six months particularly, well over the last years especially, many of us have marched because we want peace, we want to see an end to the killing of Palestinian people, we want to see an end to the war in Gaza.
Those marches have brought people together from a huge range of communities, societies and all over the country.
That is the poltiical movement that will beat fascism, that is the poltiical movement that will bring peace, that is the poltiical movement to bring justice and equality.
Trans protesters march through central London
Thousands of people are taking part in the London Trans+ Pride march in central London today.
The march, which carries the slogan ‘None of us are free until all of us are free’ is in its sixth year, and celebrates trans+ identities.
Some of those taking part in the march could be seen holding signs reading ‘Protect trans youth’, ‘Support our trans sisters’ and ‘Trans rights now’.
Others were also seen holding Palestinian flags.
Watch: Counter protesters chant ‘We are black, white, Muslim and we’re Jews’
In pictures: Tommy Robinson supporters gathered in central London
Anti-racist counter-demonstrators arrive in Whitehall
Trans Pride march kicks off in London
The Trans Pride event has kicked off in London, with crowds marching from Langham Place to Wellington Arch where speeches will take place.
The march was organised by London Trans+ Pride (LTP), a trans-led community organisation consisting of volunteers working for and with the trans+ community in the UK.
The group has organised the march since 2018.
Watch: Massive crowds turn out for Tommy Robinson rally
Counter-demonstrators will end up less than 400 metres from Tommy Robinson rally
The counter-demonstrators will end up in less than 400 metres from a ‘patriotic rally’ but are being separated by hordes of police officers.
Robinson’s ‘Uniting The Kingdom’ event, which has been billed as a ‘patriotic rally’ has seen people gather on The Strand, before marching to Trafalgar Square.
The counter demonstrators started marching less than two miles away in Russell Square and are currently marching towards Whitehall.
Police have warned that they will keep members of both protests apart from each other and warned that leaflets claiming the counter-demonstration finishes in Trafalgar Square are incorrect.
Read the full story below:
Counter protest makes its way along Victoria Embankment
Counter protesters march through central London
Counter protesters have begun marching through central London as they make their way towards Whitehall.
They were seen carrying signs that read ‘No to Tommy Robinson, no to fascism’, ‘Smash fascism and racism’ and ‘Oppose Islamaphobia, defend the right to protest’.
The counter protest run by Stand Up To Racism with the support of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and 11 other trade unions, Stop the War Coalition, Peace & Justice Project and Unite Against Fascism set off from Russell Square at 1.30pm.
Before the march began protesters heard speeches from trade union officials and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Tommy Robinson shares video of protesters filling Trafalgar Square
Met Police will ‘intervene decisively’ to deal with people who break protest conditions
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who is in charge of this weekend’s operation, warned that police will ‘intervene decisively’ to deal with protesters who break the strict conditions about when and where they are allowed to demonstrate.
He said: ‘Our first priority is to keep the peace to ensure that those exercising their right to lawful protest can do so safely.
‘We have proactively used our powers under the Public Order Act to manage the timings and routes of marches and assemblies, ensuring that the groups are kept apart.
‘Officers will intervene decisively to deal with any breaches of those conditions, prevent crime, and to respond to any other incidents.
‘Everyone has a right to feel safe and be safe in London.
‘Those who abuse the right to protest in an effort to unlawfully intimidate others or to use hate speech can expect to face police action.
‘The police presence will be very visible and I would urge anyone out and about in London, whether participating in these events or not, to speak to an officer if they feel unsafe or wish to report an incident.’
Met Police confirms there have been no arrests so far
Laurence Fox attends Tommy Robinson rally
Actor-turned-political activist Laurence Fox has been pictured at the Tommy Robinson rally in Trafalgar Sqaure along with thousands of other protesters.
Mr Fox has often attended protests organised by Mr Robinson including one in June earlier this year wher he gave a speech outside Parliament Square.
Jeremy Corbyn takes to the stage for counter-protest in Russell Square
In pictures: Protesters fill the streets with flags and flares
What route is each protest taking?
For those of you wanting to avoid getting stuck in any large crowds, the below maps will show you where the Tommy Robinson rally and counter demonstrators are going to be marching.
The Tommy Robinson rally set off from The Strand earlier today before moving into Trafalgar Square where many protesters still remain.
Meanwhile, the counter-protest will see attendees gather in Russell Square before marching down Kingsway to Victoria, and then along Embankment before massing in Whitehall, less than 400 metres from the Tommy Robinson rally.
The Met Police have closed roads in central London to accommodate the protests, with the areas on the below map – shaded in purple, blue and green – set to be particularly affected today
Met police flood streets with 1,000 officers to keep the peace
The Metropolitan Police have flooded central London with 1,000 police officers to keep the peaceamid the protests this afternoon.
The force says the vast majority of its officers on-duty today will be tasked with keeping the groups, some of whom have diametrically opposed views, apart from each other.
Police have warned that despite leaflets suggesting the counter-protest march will finish in Trafalgar Square, this is not the case and the rally must end in Whitehall instead.
Read the full story below:
What protests are happening in London today?
There is a lot going on in the capital this afternoon with three separate protests all taking place on the same day and within two miles of each other.
Thousands of people have gathered in central London for a march led by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon.
His protest moved from the Royal Courts of Justice to a rally in Trafalgar Square at around 12.45pm, with pictures showing huge crowds of people amassed arpind the famous landmark.
A counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Project is set to march from Russell Square and to a rally in Whitehall.
It is supported by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and 11 trade unions, as well as groups such as Stop the War Coalition, Peace & Justice Project and Unite Against Fascism.
A Trans Pride event, which includes a march from Langham Place to Wellington Arch where speeches will take place, is also being held on Saturday.
No conditions have been imposed in advance of the Trans Pride event, the police said.
Welcome to the live blog
Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog.
We will be providing updates throughout the day as thousands of people have descended on London to take part in a Tommy Robinson rally.
A large counter-demonstration by Stand Up To Racism is also set to take place in the capital, as well as a Trans Pride march all in the space of two miles.
Key Updates
-
Met Police arrest two men on suspicion of GBH
-
Anti-racist counter-demonstrators arrive in Whitehall
-
Trans Pride march kicks off in London
-
Counter protesters march through central London
-
Met Police confirms there have been no arrests so far
-
Laurence Fox attends Tommy Robinson rally
-
Jeremy Corbyn takes to the stage for counter-protest in Russell Square
-
What route is each protest taking?
-
Met police flood streets with 1,000 officers to keep the peace
-
What protests are happening in London today?