Tommy Robinson is leveraging the murder of Charlie Kirk to gather support for what is poised to be Britain’s most significant far-right rally in decades, which will feature speakers from Britain, the US, and Europe. Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist for Donald Trump, is among those scheduled to speak at the rally in central London, which Robinson has been actively monetizing. Other speakers include Ant Middleton, a former UK special forces soldier known for his far-right rhetoric, and politicians from Germany’s and Poland’s far-right parties. American Joey Mannarino, a self-described right-wing commentator, will also be speaking, having previously stated that all rape cases “have just become fake to me” following a civil case alleging sexual assault by Trump.
However, it is unclear whether Jordan Peterson, a Canadian psychology professor and culture warrior, will attend. Despite being listed as a speaker and being a supporter of Robinson online, Peterson has made no mention of the event recently. His potential appearance raises questions about his association with the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC), which includes business leaders and conservatives such as Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, and Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK.
Police have temporarily halted bookings for the event due to concerns over violence at previous gatherings involving Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. In a recent video about the Kirk shooting, Robinson spoke of the person or organization responsible for the murder. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man, was later arrested as a suspect in the shooting.
Hope Not Hate, an anti-extremism group, expects more than 40,000 attendees, and a separate gathering by Stand Up to Racism will also be held. The march for the latter will be led by MPs Zarah Sultana and Diane Abbott, who has stated that the far-right is a menace to society and targets are expanding.
Nick Lowles from Hope Not Hate notes that the event is not only significant but also represents a movement further to the right of Reform UK, with uncertain political implications. Robinson has recently joined the party Advance UK, which is set to launch soon and expects support from a network of football fans and hooligan groups also involved with the English Defence League (EDL).
Commander Clair Haynes, in charge of public order policing in London, has stated that Muslim Londoners should not alter their plans due to the rally. She emphasized that everyone should feel safe in London, despite concerns over anti-Muslim rhetoric and chants at previous marches.
As well as Robinson’s rally, dubbed a “free speech festival,” there will be a counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism at the other end of Whitehall. Additional events, including football fixtures, will also be part of the policing operation for the day.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/13/charlie-kirk-killing-invoked-bolster-uk-largest-far-right-rally-decades
