politics
Government Bars Foreign Speakers from Tommy Robinson 'Unite the Kingdom' Rally Expected to Draw Over 100,000
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that authorities have already barred seven people from entering Britain ahead of Saturday's Unite the Kingdom demonstration in central London, which could draw more than 100,000 attendees. Police plan a significant presence and will impose conditions on the event, which coincides with a pro-Palestine march marking Nakba Day.
May 11, 9:04 AM·2m read2 sources
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said far-right agitators will be blocked from entering the UK for a Tommy Robinson-led demonstration on Saturday. More than 100,000 people could attend the Unite the Kingdom rally in central London, where police have pledged a significant presence.
The Home Secretary has the power to cancel a person’s permission to enter or stay in the UK and has already blocked seven people from entering for the march.
In a speech on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer said the event was designed to confront and intimidate this diverse country. "That is why this Labour Government will block far-right agitators from travelling to Britain," Sir Keir Starmer said. " Last month, anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez was excluded by Shabana Mahmood.
Valentina Gomez gained notoriety through stunts including burning a copy of the Koran and was due to speak at the rally having attended its previous protest in September. Last week, right-wing US figure Joey Mannarino said he had also been blocked having been told his presence would not be conducive to the public good. The same justification was used for banning rapper Kanye West.
The Metropolitan Police will impose conditions on the Unite the Kingdom event. A pro-Palestine demonstration to mark Nakba Day is due to take place on the same day as the Unite the Kingdom rally. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said he was concerned about the scale of the protests.
Sir Mark Rowley said his force was looking hard at what conditions and powers we should use. The last Unite the Kingdom protest was attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people. @Independent reported the details of the planned rally, the barring orders and the overlapping demonstrations.
