UK - London “Free Speech Festival” and Counter-Protest both set to attract at least tens of thousands in capital – 13 September 2025

Key Takeaways:

• On 13 September 2025, central London will host two large, opposing demonstrations: Tommy Robinson’s “Free Speech Festival” and a counter-protest led by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and allied anti-fascist groups.

  The right-leaning march has been organised to take place in central London, mustering at Waterloo Station before marching over Westminster Bridge to end at Whitehall.

• Organisers have advised people to arrive at Blackfriars Station between 1030hrs and 1100hrs, before making their way to the muster point at the end of Stamford Street, SE1 9NN.

• Police conditions imposed on the march mean that participants must muster along Stamford Street.

• The protest has been organised by the right-leaning activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), as well as groups such as 'Make Europe Great Again (MEGA)', and is advertised as a 'free speech festival'.

• Based on previous demonstrations organised and promoted by Tommy Robinson, attendance is likely to be in high tens of thousands. Organisers are claiming it could attract at least 150,000 'patriots' but quoting interest from at least 500,000 people and mark the biggest rally in the UK for years.

• Such potential numbers are sparking panic among local businesses and policing planners who fear an outbreak of public order chaos. All Met Police leave has been cancelled for the weekend as a result of this and other associated events also taking place in the capital on the day.

• Disruption to public transport (especially the Tube, bus services, and network around Waterloo, Blackfriars, and the Strand) and business access is likely, with rolling road closures as marches converge toward Whitehall.

• Police deployment is expected to focus on maintaining separation between groups, managing traffic, and responding rapidly to any incidents.

• Historical patterns from previous Tommy Robinson events suggest a strong likelihood of police presence, arrests, and rapid intervention if clashes occur.

• Radical elements on both sides may challenge organisers’ commitments to peaceful demonstration.

Unite The Kingdom Free Speech Festival

• The Free Speech Festival, publicised as the “Unite The Kingdom Free Speech Festival,” is organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) under the Unite The Kingdom movement, in collaboration with groups such as Make Europe Great Again and Urban Scoop.

• Robinson promotes the event as the “Biggest Free Speech Rally the World Has Ever Seen,” aiming to gather hundreds of thousands of supporters who oppose what they describe as the “total erosion” of British culture, identity, and free speech.

• Robinson claims that up to 500,000 attendees are set to partake, although previous similar events suggest actual turnout may be in the low tens of thousands.

• Contrary to earlier reports, organisers are now instructing participants to arrive at London Blackfriars Station, EC4V 4DY between 1030hrs and 1100hrs (local).

• From there, they are to proceed on foot over Blackfriars Bridge, along Stamford Street, SE1 9NN, with the head of the march facing west toward BFI IMAX, SE1 8XR, assembling from 1100hrs onwards.

• See image below from the organisers of the route advertised to be taken by participants arriving at Blackfriars Station and heading towards the muster point on Stamford Street.

• The march is expected to start at approximately 1300hrs (local) and reportedly travel across Westminster Bridge and conclude at Whitehall for a static assembly, though the exact route is still to be confirmed.

• Organisers have emphasised logistical guidance for safety, including strict muster points and stewards placed along the march route with directions to comply with police conditions.

• The march is expected to include speeches, banners, and messaging highlighting opposition to censorship, immigration, and perceived threats to British identity.

• The list of confirmed speakers for the event is as follows (from the organisers' website):

Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) counter protest:

• Concurrently, a counter-protest has been organised by Stand Up To Racism, allied trade unions, and other campaigning groups, billed as a “March Against Fascism”.

• The counter-demonstration is set to muster at Russell Square, WC1B 5EH, at 1200hrs (local), with a march planned to Whitehall.

• The full route for the counter-protest is not yet announced, but organisers emphasise mobilisation against far-right activism, defending refugees, and opposing racism and Islamophobia.

• The counter-protest expects their action to draw thousands (prior similar events attracted around 5,000); however, with support from trade unions, local campaigns, and city-wide mobilisation, as well as travel and coach arrangements from across the country, turnout could potentially reach the low tens of thousands.

  
  

Further information:

• According to organisers of the “Free Speech Festival”, the current policing plan imposes public order conditions on the march (restricted muster at Stamford Street) and anticipates active efforts to keep opposing groups apart, with significant police presence throughout Southwark, Whitehall, and Parliament Square.

• Police are expected to maintain a significant presence across central London, focusing on key locations including Whitehall, Parliament Square, Stamford Street, Blackfriars Bridge, and surrounding areas.

• The political and social atmosphere is tense, with a very high possibility of clashes between the two opposing groups, although both organisers have publicly expressed intentions for peaceful demonstration.

• Tommy Robinson recently wrote on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Urgent Call for Peace at the September 13th Free Speech Festival in London. No masks, no alcohol, no violence—this fight is too important to let agent provocateurs derail our movement. Please share this everywhere!!!”

• In the run-up to the protest, Robinson announced that the movement will release an official theme song on iTunes at 0000hrs (local) on Friday, 12 September 2025, performed by Rikki Doolan. Branded as a “move of unity, passion, and spirit,” the song is being promoted as a fundraising initiative for military charities, with organisers urging supporters to push it into the UK charts.

• Robinson’s network is actively fundraising online to raise over £100,000 for staging the event, covering venue, security, speakers’ travel, and infrastructure costs. The organiser brand “Urban Scoop” emphasises free speech, anti-censorship, and cultural revival.

• The event occurs against a broader backdrop of far-right mobilisation, debates over free speech, and heightened discourse on immigration and national identity in the UK.

Assessment:

• The Tommy Robinson “Free Speech Festival” represents one of the most significant far-right-connected demonstrations in recent UK history, with potential international attention and attendance in the low tens of thousands.

• The counter-protest by SUTR and allied organisations is similarly significant, reflecting a major ideological confrontation on central London streets.

• Use of Blackfriars, Stamford Street, Whitehall, and Russell Square as muster/march points will substantially impact transport and pedestrian movement in those areas, especially around late morning to mid-afternoon.

• High-profile locations along the march and protest routes increase the risk of verbal abuse, targeted harassment, localised disorder, and potential property damage.

• Disruption to public transport (especially the Tube, bus services, and network around Waterloo, Blackfriars, and the Strand) and business access is likely, with rolling road closures as marches converge toward Whitehall.

• Police deployment is expected to focus on maintaining separation between groups, managing traffic, and responding rapidly to any incidents. Local transport, pedestrian routes, and businesses may be disrupted for several hours.

• Historical patterns from previous Tommy Robinson events suggest a strong likelihood of police presence, arrests, and rapid intervention if clashes occur. Radical elements on both sides may challenge organisers’ commitments to peaceful demonstration.

• Authorities and stakeholders should prepare for public order challenges, monitor social media and online mobilisation, and maintain dynamic contingency plans for crowd control, transport disruption, and protester engagement.