A significant far-right rally, dubbed “unite the kingdom,” unfolded in central London, organized by activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, widely known as Tommy Robinson. The event drew an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 participants, considerably surpassing the organizers' initial projections, and was met by approximately 5,000 anti-racism counter-protesters. The demonstration featured speeches from various far-right personalities and politicians, highlighting nationalist and anti-immigrant sentiments, and regrettably descended into violence.

Elon Musk, owner of X and Tesla, addressed the rally via video link, making a series of controversial statements. He called for a “dissolution of parliament” and a “change of government” in the UK, arguing that the country could not wait until the next election. Musk also railed against the “woke mind virus,” asserting that decisions for advancement should be based on merit rather than “discrimination on the basis of sex, or religion or any race or anything else.” He claimed much of the “woke stuff is actually super-racist, it’s super-sexist and often it’s anti-religion, but only anti-Christian.” Furthermore, Musk warned the crowd that “violence is coming” and that “you either fight back or you die,” linking this to the idea that Britain faced “destruction” due to “massive uncontrolled migration.” He controversially claimed “the left are the party of murder,” referring to the death of Charlie Kirk and alleging that people on the left celebrated it openly.

The rally was marred by extensive clashes and aggression, resulting in injuries to 26 police officers, four of whom were seriously hurt with injuries including broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc, and a head injury. At least 25 arrests were made for various offenses, including affray, violent disorder, and assault. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist condemned the “wholly unacceptable” level of violence faced by officers. The police struggled to contain aggressive elements of the far-right crowd, who threw projectiles such as fireworks and bottles, with one bottle reportedly smashing against a police horse. Mounted police and officers with batons were deployed to manage the crowds and prevent them from encircling counter-protesters.

Anti-fascist counter-protesters found themselves trapped for over six hours, kettled by police and surrounded by their far-right opponents, after aggressive marchers splintered off and cut off their only exit in Trafalgar Square. The rhetoric at the rally was intensely inflammatory; Robinson introduced a survivor of the Rotherham grooming scandal by asking, “How hasn’t there been a revolution already about this rape jihad against our daughters?” French far-right politician Éric Zemmour echoed anti-immigrant sentiments, speaking of a “great replacement of our European people by peoples coming from the south and of Muslim culture.”

Adding to the controversies, Tim Booth, the lead singer of the alternative rock band James, expressed his disgust at Tommy Robinson’s “cynical” and unauthorized use of their hit song “Sit Down” in a protest video. Booth stated the song's message was “the antithesis” of Robinson’s movement and confirmed the band was exploring their legal options, including cease and desist letters and potential copyright infringement lawsuits. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, condemned the attacks on police officers, vowing that those involved in criminal activity would face the full force of the law. The far-right rally, despite overrunning its imposed cut-off time, eventually saw its crowd thin due to heavy rain, allowing police to regain control and create a path for the trapped counter-protesters to leave.