Unite the Kingdom and Pro Palestine marches Cup 16th May 2026

It’s very sad FriedGreenTomaties2

Any one slightly right of centre and in possession of a UK flag, particularly the English or Union flag, is now a far right extremist.

People waving foreign flags - not a problem, carry on. People waving the flag of our own country? Branded far-right extremists.

Is Yaxley-Lennon innocent of 'demonising' people?

REKA

Casdon

I suspect the nationalists in the other countries of the UK might object to that too Cossy, preferring just their own national flag. It’s such a divisive issue, and there is no compromise which would please the whole population of the UK.

Watching live streaming there's a fair few flags from Scotland and Wales being flown. It's the UK, not England.

I've not seen much but there's an awful lot of people there.

I don't think that all of them are fans of Tommy at all. There seems to be all ages and nationalities.

I wouldn't vote Reform myself but there's a lot of people who feel let down, hence this march . We shouldn't just brand people as far right. In fact that's been part of Keir's problem. Demonising people hasn't worked well for Mr. Starmer

If they're not fans of Tommy Robinson, why do they go to the trouble to support a march which they must know he organised?

Apparently, today's 'Palestine ' march is to commemorate 78 years since the Nabka.

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I believe only our nation’s flags should be flown in this country. The Palestinian flag has no place on our official buildings
Twaddle please stop lecturing, we are not naive to be proud of our St George’s cross flag just because you think we should be. Stop labelling us all as racist. We are as proud to be English as the Scots and Welsh are of their countries.

That demonstrates what I mean though REKA, when even on a far right march, people from the other nations don’t drape themselves in the Union Jack. I’m not supporting this in any way, but it’s a reality that the Union Jack is not viewed as favourably in Scotland or Wales as it is in England. People who want independence are not happy for the Union Jack to be displayed at all..we are a divided country, whether we like it or not.

Casdon

I suspect the nationalists in the other countries of the UK might object to that too Cossy, preferring just their own national flag. It’s such a divisive issue, and there is no compromise which would please the whole population of the UK.

Watching live streaming there's a fair few flags from Scotland and Wales being flown. It's the UK, not England.

I've not seen much but there's an awful lot of people there.

I don't think that all of them are fans of Tommy at all. There seems to be all ages and nationalities.

I wouldn't vote Reform myself but there's a lot of people who feel let down, hence this march . We shouldn't just brand people as far right. In fact that's been part of Keir's problem. Demonising people hasn't worked well for Mr. Starmer

I suspect the nationalists in the other countries of the UK might object to that too Cossy, preferring just their own national flag. It’s such a divisive issue, and there is no compromise which would please the whole population of the UK.

Oreo

Since the Met say they can police all that’s going on today, let’s hope they really can do.

Me too!

“twaddle

eazybee
I find it shameful that people object to the display of the Union flag, St.George's Cross, the Saltire and the Welsh Dragon. They are the flags of Britain, and are not displayed or venerated nearly enough.
Sad that it takes Tommy Robinson/Yaxley -Lennon to utilise them for his own purpose.
Nobody finds flying the flags shameful! What they find shameful is the reason they are being flown by these particular people. They've made no pretence about their values, so there's no point denying the purpose of their flag waving”

What shameful is certain far right groups hijacking our flags are using them to intimidate people with different colour skin!

I’d like to see the Union flag flown in all official buildings across building in the UK, alongside the George Cross in England.

TheatreLover

Oreo

TheatreLover

Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags installed already at Russell Square entrance. A park that is an emblem of inclusiveness, anyone can spend time there, has been hijacked by people who represent anything but inclusivity. People are swathed in either the Union Jack, St George's Cross flag, the Welsh Dragon flag and the Saltire. I am very old. I never ever thought I would live to see such divisiveness and xenophobia in this beautiful country of ours . I feel really sorry for the popular and busy park cafe who has been advised to close for the day, thus losing a day's business.

I prefer to see our national flags than the Palestinian one, but each to their own.

I like to see the union flags flown. The Welsh dragon is probably my favourite. The Union Jack is meant to be a symbol of inclusiveness. Today's march is not about inclusiveness though is it? It's about just the opposite. I agree with easybee that's it's sad that that Tommy Robinson/Yaxley-Lennon and his ilk have appropriated the Union flags for their own purpose.

Exactly! Everybody on the Unite the Kingdom march must know that Tommy Robinson is behind it. I can't imagine anybody would actually bother to go on the march unless they shared his values. Everybody knows what those flags mean today - even though they do mean something else if there's an international sports match or a jubilee. The meaning of flags isn't static and I wish people would stop acting all innocent and pretending that flags always mean the same.

Oreo

TheatreLover

Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags installed already at Russell Square entrance. A park that is an emblem of inclusiveness, anyone can spend time there, has been hijacked by people who represent anything but inclusivity. People are swathed in either the Union Jack, St George's Cross flag, the Welsh Dragon flag and the Saltire. I am very old. I never ever thought I would live to see such divisiveness and xenophobia in this beautiful country of ours . I feel really sorry for the popular and busy park cafe who has been advised to close for the day, thus losing a day's business.

I prefer to see our national flags than the Palestinian one, but each to their own.

I like to see the union flags flown. The Welsh dragon is probably my favourite. The Union Jack is meant to be a symbol of inclusiveness. Today's march is not about inclusiveness though is it? It's about just the opposite. I agree with easybee that's it's sad that that Tommy Robinson/Yaxley-Lennon and his ilk have appropriated the Union flags for their own purpose.

Since the Met say they can police all that’s going on today, let’s hope they really can do.

TheatreLover

Union Jacks and St George's Cross flags installed already at Russell Square entrance. A park that is an emblem of inclusiveness, anyone can spend time there, has been hijacked by people who represent anything but inclusivity. People are swathed in either the Union Jack, St George's Cross flag, the Welsh Dragon flag and the Saltire. I am very old. I never ever thought I would live to see such divisiveness and xenophobia in this beautiful country of ours . I feel really sorry for the popular and busy park cafe who has been advised to close for the day, thus losing a day's business.

I prefer to see our national flags than the Palestinian one, but each to their own.

Maremia

Police will be using face recognition technology, and organisers may be held responsible for any speakers who spout hate.

Apparently it’s only going to be used at the Unite protest…make of that what you will.

AGAA4

I am concerned about Yaxley - Lennon who has already started using language which will incite violence.
Telling people that Starmer is the enemy and descend on London is not inspiring a peaceful protest.
I hope this doesn't end up in a brawl but isn't that what Yaxley-Lennon supporters come for.

Just watching footage and can see a banner proclaiming”From the River to the Sea”. That is inciting racial hatred and should be removed but of course we know it won’t be.

In the crowd of many thousands are housewives, mothers, businessmen, people from all ethnicities, people of all ages, farmers, people on the dole, flags and banners from all over the UK, people who just feel they are not being listened to and want to demonstrate their dissatisfaction. A very wide cross section of people and by no means all supporters of Tommy Robinson.

eazybee

I find it shameful that people object to the display of the Union flag, St.George's Cross, the Saltire and the Welsh Dragon. They are the flags of Britain, and are not displayed or venerated nearly enough.
Sad that it takes Tommy Robinson/Yaxley -Lennon to utilise them for his own purpose.

Nobody finds flying the flags shameful! What they find shameful is the reason they are being flown by these particular people. They've made no pretence about their values, so there's no point denying the purpose of their flag waving.

^Hate preachers welcome'?
Says upthread, seven of them were refused entry.
So, not all welcome, it would seem.^

I read this as saying that seven Hate Preachers were refused entry but could not find it. Or does this refer to the 'Far Right', eleven of whom have been banned?

eazybee I agree, the flags of our nations do not belong to thugs, they belong to us all 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

I find it shameful that people object to the display of the Union flag, St.George's Cross, the Saltire and the Welsh Dragon. They are the flags of Britain, and are not displayed or venerated nearly enough.
Sad that it takes Tommy Robinson/Yaxley -Lennon to utilise them for his own purpose.

Robinson/Yaxley-Lennon is a thug in my opinion.

I also think that chants of Global intifada on the pro-Palestine gatherings are just as dangerous and concerning as those draping themselves in the flag of my country…

I am concerned about Yaxley - Lennon who has already started using language which will incite violence.
Telling people that Starmer is the enemy and descend on London is not inspiring a peaceful protest.
I hope this doesn't end up in a brawl but isn't that what Yaxley-Lennon supporters come for.

Basgetti

Casdon

It reminds me of Samuel Johnson - When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.
It doesn’t denigrate the rest of the UK to think London is a great place to visit. I don’t get why anybody would dislike it - and I’m very much a rural person.

I was born in London and lived there for around 27 years (central). I don’t enjoy visiting at all. Too noisy, overcrowded and dirty. Certainly not tired of life, just prefer it elsewhere.

Everywhere is dirty in this country now, sadly.

Did you watch the programme about flytipping the other evening?
See the pictures of bags full of dog poo stuffed into cracks in Hadrian's Wall?
Drive through AONB and see the litter at the sides of the roads?
Seen the Birmingham streets full of rubbish because the refuse collectors are on strike?

It's not just London.

Who drops this litter? Dirty and disgusting.