Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will prevent 'far-right agitators' from entering the country ahead of a planned march in London on Saturday, May 16. He described the event as being 'designed to confront and intimidate this diverse country'.
Speaking on Tuesday, Starmer launched an attack on what he termed 'grievance politics', accusing rival parties of increasingly adopting such tactics. He said: 'They want more grievance politics, more division, more pointing at Britain's problems, looking not for solutions, but for someone to blame. Now that's fine if it's me, if it's politicians, that's the job, but increasingly it's not. It's other people in this country, and I don't think that's British.'
Starmer added: 'That is not the decency and respect that we are known for. But it's here. That politics is with us now, and you'll see it again on Saturday at a march designed to confront and intimidate this diversity and this diverse country.' He continued: 'That is why this Labour Government will block far-right agitators from travelling to Britain for that event.'
Rally Details and Counter-Protest
The march, promoted by Tommy Robinson and advertised as the 'Unite the Kingdom, Unite the West' rally, coincides with a pro-Palestine march planned for the same day. According to Stand Up to Racism, the pro-Palestine march plans to mark the 'annual commemoration of the Nakba'. The group also described Tommy Robinson's march as 'a threat to us all' and called upon 'every anti-racist, anti-fascist and all people of good conscience' to join their side of the march.
The planned pro-Palestine march comes following comments from Starmer that 'there are instances' in which he would support a ban on such marches altogether, as reported by the Guardian. Starmer's comments followed a series of attacks on members of the Jewish community, including the stabbing of two men in Golder's Green, North London, last month.
Police Presence and Conditions
The Metropolitan Police are expected to have a 'significant' presence across central London on Saturday as a result of the marches. The Met will impose 'strict conditions' on routes throughout the city in order to prevent 'serious disruption and serious disorder', according to the Independent.
