London Together Alliance march: Thousands of anti far-right protesters descend on capital

Paige Horsford, 34, a media and English teacher from New Romney, Kent, said she joined the Together march because she has witnessed racist incidents at her school.

She said: “This is my 10th year teaching, and it’s certainly the worst it’s ever been.

“Especially after the Unite the Kingdom rally in September, we had issues in our school surrounding that rally.

“Our kids’ parents had been, and then (pupils) were thinking that they could have free licence to be abusive in classrooms.”

Ms Horsford said pupils had been imitating accents and making “inappropriate” comments.

She said: “The other day, when a teacher who was of foreign descent was giving out warnings, one of the kids went, ‘Oh, is he gonna blow up if we keep on?’

“(There has been) a lot of low-level stuff and when I’m teaching media and we talk about newspapers, kids are saying, ‘it’s all because of the immigrants’, and, no, it isn’t.”

Hundreds of people have turned out in support of the Together Alliance’s rally against the far right in central London.

As the march formed up, there were chants of: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”, and “choose love”.

Many protestors carried placards, bearing slogans such as: “Migrants make our NHS”, “No to racism, no to Trump”, and “Refugees welcome, stop the far right”.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said those in power have been using racism to “feather their own nests”, as he criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s comments around immigration.

In May last year, the Prime Minister said the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers”, in a speech about immigration.

Mr Kebede said ahead of the Together Alliance rally against the far-right on Saturday: “What we have seen – in the age of Trump in particular – is those in power using racism to feather their own nests, whether it’s Donald Trump, whether it’s Nigel Farage.

“And what’s even worse is we’ve seen the Prime Minister, instead of taking it on, tail-end it with the ‘island of strangers’ nonsense that he pedalled last year.”

He added: “The toxic climate that is taking place in society festers into schools. We’re seeing an increase in racist incidents, whether that’s directed towards teachers and support staff, or pupil-on-pupil, so it’s incredibly difficult at the moment.”

Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance, said shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy would have been “sacked” for his comments about Muslim public prayer if he had made them 10 years ago.

Earlier this month, the Conservative MP described Muslim public prayer as an “act of domination and decision”, referring to an Open Iftar event held in Trafalgar Square.

Mr Courtney said: “Nick Timothy, who is a frontbencher for the Conservative Party, criticised the Muslim community, said they were taking over Trafalgar Square when they were having an Iftar event… they were praying as part of that.

“All faiths use Trafalgar Square. The idea that Nick Timothy picks on one particular community, and criticise it, demonises it, I would say… it’s disturbing that those ideas have cut into the mainstream.

“10 years ago, he would have been sacked from the Tory frontbench for saying that. He’s not being sacked now, so we are disturbed by the growth of far-right ideas across the mainstream, as well as in the particular expressions, like Tommy Robinson.”

One march being held in London today is said to have the support of celebrities including comedian Sir Lenny Henry and singer Paloma Faith.

Meanwhile, a music event is set to feature artists such as former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Speaking ahead of a central London rally against the far-right on Saturday, co-organiser Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary of the Together Coalition and co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism, said the UK is seeing an “unprecedented growth” in support for far-right organisations.

She said: “The Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom demonstration back in September 2025 was the biggest far-right mobilisation in British history.

“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.”

Asked if she was concerned about potential counter-protests and disorder, Ms Dhalu said: “We’re not worried about anything like that today. We haven’t had any intelligence about anything like that is being planned.

“We’re confident that the size of our mobilisation here today has actually intimidated the far-right, and I think they feel that they are not confident enough to stand against us because they know that we’re going to be out in big numbers.”

Ms Dhalu said protestors have “no reason” not to abide by conditions put in place by the Metropolitan Police, adding that it will be a “peaceful” demonstration.

Police are bracing for unrest as thousands of protesters are set to descend on London.

Scotland Yard said there will be a significant police presence in the capital on Saturday as two large marches will converge in Westminster.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is in charge of the policing operation in London this weekend, said: “This is going to 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.”

One march, followed by speeches and musical performances, is organised by the Together Alliance and is said to have the support of celebrities including comedian Sir Lenny Henry and singer Paloma Faith, although neither are expected to be present.

Participants will march from Park Lane at 1pm, finishing on Whitehall, while a music event will also take place in Trafalgar Square featuring artists including former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

A separate march organised by the Palestine Coalition will form up at the southern end of Exhibition Road from midday, marching towards Hyde Park Corner where the demonstrators will turn onto Piccadilly, joining the route of the Together Alliance before the groups form up for a rally on Whitehall.

A video message from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan will be played to those gathered at the Whitehall stage and the leader of the Green party Zack Polanski is expected to make a speech.

Mr Polanski is expected to say: “Our plan is simple … never back down in the face of hate – when they attack migrants, when they spew hate about our trans siblings, when they blame Muslims for our country’s ills.”

Public order conditions in place restrict where and when the groups can gather, and the joint rally is banned from continuing after 5pm.

Thousands of people are expected to gather in central London for a mass demonstration against the far-right.

Scotland Yard said there will be a significant police presence in the capital on Saturday as two large marches will converge in Westminster.