The Met police have confirmed that five people have been arrested as Tommy Robinson supporters invade the Stand Up To Racism counter-demo area.  

The force added that this included an incident where a flare was set off, an arrest near Waterloo after an officer was spat at and three arrests in Whitehall after Stop the Isolation protesters entered the Stand Up To Racism rally area in breach of conditions. 

Thousands of protesters have gathered in central London with a march in support of Tommy Robinson and a separate counter-demonstration, 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, met outside Waterloo station before marching towards Westminster and assembling at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall. 

Before setting off from outside Waterloo station, the protestors sang ‘Rule, Britannia!’ and chanted ‘We want Starmer out’. People at the front of the march carried a banner reading ‘free political prisoners’ and ‘stop the isolation’.

Chants of ‘We want our country back’ and ‘We want Tommy out’ were sung as the demonstration set off, with protesters carrying flags bearing slogans including ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ and ‘Stop the Boats’. 

Protesters carried flags with ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ written on it, while others wore face masks of the political activist.

Some demonstrators were wearing ‘MEGA – Make England Great Again’ hats and ‘I am Tommy’ stickers with many attendees livestreaming the event on their phones.

Meanwhile, a protest organised by Stand Up To Racism started at St James’s Street, south of Piccadilly Circus on their march to march to Whitehall via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket before a rally at the Trafalgar Square end. 

Protestors gather for an anti-immigration demonstration organised by supporters of Tommy Robinson

A supporter of Tommy Robinson wears a flag picturing him on his back

A woman carries a placard with images of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, a British anti-immigration activist known as Tommy Robinson, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as counter-protesters take part in a demonstration against anti-immigration supporters

Thousands of protestors in support  Robinson arrive at Westminster

Stand Up To Racism activists are seen marching through Piccadilly in London

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. 

Protesters marched to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge and assemble in Parliament Street, at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall.

The counter-demonstration has been billed by organisers as ‘marching together against racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism and to say that we won’t let the far right divide us’. 

Sign held by protesters up read ‘Oppose Tommy Robinson’ and ‘Stop the far right’ as speeches were made to the crowd at the rally.

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.

Posting on X, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Both protests are now at their rally points at either end of Whitehall where speeches are taking place.

Protesters cross Westminister Bridge during a demonstration organised by supporters Robinson

A protest organised under the name ‘Stop the Isolation’ or ‘Unite the Kingdom’, in support of Robinson started outside Waterloo Station

A man holds a placard reading ‘UK stop the rape of white children!’

Hundreds of people have gathered outside Waterloo station for the protest

A protestor wearing a face mask of political activist Robinson

A demonstrator holds a t-shirt with a message reading ‘thank you Elon Musk’

One protestor dressed in a lion costume with a Union Jack shirt

Tommy Robinson supporters demonstrate in Central London

Protesters marchws to Whitehall via Westminster Bridge and assembled in Parliament Street, at the Parliament Square end of Whitehall

Many of the protesters, who are gathered next to the Wellington Pub, carried England and UK flags

Another sign reads: ‘When will the government act for the British public’

‘There is a significant gap in the middle of Whitehall with officers and barriers ensuring both groups are kept well apart.’ 

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. 

One protestor holds a sign reading: ‘The only minority destroying this country is the billionaires’

Counter-protesters take part in a demonstration against anti-immigration supporters of Robinson

The protest organised by Stand Up To Racism will march to Whitehall via Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket before a rally at the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall

Signs are being held by protesters up reading ‘Oppose Tommy Robinson’ and ‘Stop the far right’ as speeches are being made to the crowd.

Protesters for Stand Up To Racism’s counter-demonstration gather at St James’s Street

Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism co-convenor, said: ‘We must bring that anti-racist spirit onto the streets of London and reject the politics of hate’

‘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.’