Organisers claimed that half a million people were estimated to have gathered in London on Saturday for “the biggest demonstration ever against the far right” – however, the Metropolitan Police claimed the figure was closer to 50,000.
Swathes of protesters marched through the capital to Whitehall carrying placards reading “No to racism, no to Trump”, and “Refugees welcome” on streets lined with police officers.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chair of the 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.”
Organisers said they had successfully outnumbered the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom rally in London last September, according to their estimates.
The far-right demonstration, organised by Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people, while around 5,000 were involved in an anti-racism counter-demonstration.
But the Met said they believed the figure for Saturday’s march was closer to 50,000, although they admitted it was hard to judge the number due to the widespread nature of the crowd.
There were several incidents of violent disorder at the demonstration, which left some police officers injured. Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rally at the time and said it had left people feeling “more scared than they were before”.
A number of politicians attended the Together Alliance rally, including Your Party MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, as well as Green Party leader Zack Polanski and MP Hannah Spencer. Speakers included former Labour MP Diane Abbott, who now sits as an independent in parliament.
She told a cheering crowd: “The turnout today is the largest anti-racist march that I have seen in my lifetime, and you should all be proud of yourselves for coming out in such numbers today.”
Sabby Dhalu, 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 – but that she believed the size of attendance on Saturday had “intimidated the far right” away from a counter-protest.
“The Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom demonstration back in September 2025 was the biggest far-right mobilisation in British history,” she said.
“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.”
As Saturday’s rally began, there were shouts from a group of around 10 counter-protesters. One member of the group was carrying an Israeli flag.
A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition also took place and joined the route of the Together Alliance before the groups formed up for the rally on Whitehall.
The Metropolitan Police arrested 25 people by the end of the demonstrations, including two for climbing up the National Gallery columns and 18 Palestine Action supporters. A group of people staged a protest in support of the proscribed group outside New Scotland Yard.
It comes days after the Met announced they will resume arresting protesters for holding signs in support of the banned group.
Officers imposed public order conditions banning the joint rally from continuing after 5pm.
Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Jon Savell said before the event that this will 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”.
As well as the mass demonstration, a number of protests against the Iranian regime – both static assemblies and marches – were taking place in the Westminster area on both Saturday and Sunday, the Metropolitan Police said.
This article was amended on 30 March 2026. It originally stated that half a million people attended the march, however the Metropolitan Police put the figure at closer to 50,000 individuals. The Independent is unable to verify either figure.
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