Protesters will gather in support of Tommy Robinson in central London on Saturday, and a counter-demonstration will also take place, as the Metropolitan Police deploy more officers to keep the opposing groups apart.
A protest organised under the name “Stop the Isolation” or “Unite the Kingdom”, in support of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will form in Sandell Street and Cornwall Road, off Waterloo Road, outside Waterloo Station, from midday.
Protesters will march to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge and assemble in Parliament Street, at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall.
ADMIN POST
Tomorrow we will be holding our Stop The Isolation rally in London.
We will be highlighting Tommy's political imprisonment, the fact that being in isolation is severely damaging his mental health, that others are imprisoned for merely posting opinions about the… pic.twitter.com/EXFWeAHIJT
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) January 31, 2025
A protest organised by Stand Up To Racism will form in St James’s Street, south of Piccadilly Circus, from 11.30am, and protesters will march to Whitehall via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket before a rally at the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.
Pedestrian access in the middle of Whitehall will be restricted, and officers will be deployed to keep the groups apart, the Met said.
Anyone in the area not involved in the protests is encouraged to use other routes to go from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square, or vice versa, the force added.
Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October after the Solicitor General took legal action against him for breaching a High Court injunction made in 2021.
He admitted 10 breaches of the order, which barred him from repeating libellous allegations against a Syrian refugee.
Organisers of the protest in support of Robinson posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “We will proceed to Downing Street.
“Stand against the isolation of Tommy Robinson.
“Deliver our message to the establishment.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co-convenor, said: “We saw the power of mobilising against the far-right in response to last summer’s racist riots.
“We must bring that anti-racist spirit onto the streets of London and reject the politics of hate.”
Commander Louise Puddefoot, in charge of the policing operation, said: “We are well prepared for these protests, having been in discussions with both sets of organisers in recent weeks.
“We have officers deployed in significant numbers to provide reassurance to the wider community, and to give us the capability to intervene swiftly and decisively if incidents of crime or disorder occur.
There will be an increased police presence in central London tomorrow with two protests due to take place.
We have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption or disorder.
More details can be found at the link below ⬇️ https://t.co/KOs9suZsU3
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 31, 2025
“Decisions on our policing style at protests, including the types of uniform worn by officers and the protective equipment available to them, are taken on a case-by-case basis. It allows us to be ready to respond quickly and decisively where we need to.
“Our assessment for tomorrow’s protest, based on the information available to us, is that an additional level of preparedness is required.
“What our officers are wearing or the protective kit they are carrying doesn’t change their role at these events.
“They are there to ensure all involved can exercise their right to protest peacefully, without causing serious disruption to the life of the wider community and without risking the disorder that could take place if groups with opposing views come together.”
