'Won’t stand for intimidation on our streets based on colour of skin': UK PM Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned police attacks and racially motivated intimidation after a major anti-immigrant protest descended into violence on Sunday. The violence left several police officers injured.

The 'Unite the Kingdom' rally, hosted by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and with a video address from American tech mogul Elon Musk, turned ugly on Saturday, resulting in clashes that left at least 26 police officers injured and 24 arrested.

Reacting to the violence outside 10 Downing Street in his first official statement, Starmer went on X to condemn attacks on people based on their migrant status.

“People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values,” said Starmer.

“But we will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin,” he said.

“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division,” he added.

According to the Met Police, an estimated 150,000 attended the rally, which saw anti-immigration speeches accompanied by British Union Jack and St George's flags being waved by crowds. A smaller counter-demonstration, Stand Up To Racism, took place nearby but attendance far outstripped organisers' expectations, spilling the two groups into one another.

“There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence. They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe,” said Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist.

“The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable; 26 officers were injured, including four seriously – among them broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury. The 25 arrests we have made so far is just the start,” he said.

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood went on social media on Saturday to warn the perpetrators of the violence that they would "face the full force of the law."

“What worries me most is the divisions in our society and other societies and other democratic societies... it's not even the left and the right at the moment. There are figures such as Tommy Robinson that are able to touch into a sense of disquiet and grievance in the community, in our society,” Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC.

The minister also condemned Musk's remarks, delivered through video link at Saturday's rally, in which he urged protesters to "fight back" or "die."

“I thought that they were slightly incomprehensible comments that were totally inappropriate,” he said, reiterating that any violence on UK streets will not go unpunished.

Tommy Robinson, whose surname is actually Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, informed attendees that UK courts had decreed that the rights of illegal immigrants have to be respected above those of the "local community." He cited a recent Court of Appeal ruling to overturn an injunction that barred asylum seekers from being placed at the Bell Hotel in Essex.

“They told the world that Somalians, Afghanis, Pakistanis, all of them, their rights supersede yours — the British public, the people that built this nation,” he said, with reference to the case.

Robinson's supporters were said to have thrown objects at counter-protesters as the two sides had a confrontation on Whitehall in central London.

“Our post-event investigation has already begun – we are identifying those who were involved in the disorder and they can expect to face robust police action in the coming days and weeks,” Assistant Commissioner Twist added.

The accommodation of a large group of asylum seekers in taxpayer-subsidized hotels has been a significant issue over the past few months. The Labour government led by Starmer has blamed the backlog on the erstwhile Tory government and has promised to cut migration rates to steer away from hotels for asylum accommodation.