London protests latest: Starmer says rally sent ‘shiver’ through UK as Musk lashes out at call for sanctions
Sir Keir Starmer said the trouble that broke out at the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march was more than ‘just very bad behaviour’
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Tommy Robinson’s “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration, saying it sent a “shiver” through the UK.
The prime minister is also facing demands to sanction Elon Musk – who has now lashed out at the calls – after the tech billionaire called for the dissolution of parliament in comments to the up to 150,000 demonstrators on Saturday.
The X and Tesla owner’s speech at the London rally organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson – in which he also told protesters to “either fight back or you die” – has been denounced as “inappropriate” and “disgusting”.
In an interview with Channel 4 News on Monday, Sir Keir described the demonstration as “plastic patriotism”, adding that it had been more than “just very bad behaviour”.
He said: “It sent a shiver through so many of our communities who now feel more scared than they did before. I understand that.”
On Sunday, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to the prime minister, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and UK Reform leader Nigel Farage, urging them to join him in “condemning Mr Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence ” and to consider sanctions against Musk.
The tech billionaire has now hit back, calling Mr Davey a “craven coward”.
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Police search for demonstrator who called for Starmer to be assassinated
Police are looking for a man who called for Sir Keir Starmer to be assassinated while attending the Unite the Kingdom march over the weekend.
The demonstrator was speaking to former Tory councillor and conspiracy theorist William Coleshill in London during the march.
In a video that is circulating online, he is heard saying: “Keir Starmer needs to be assassinated, someone needs to shoot Keir Starmer.”
Police say they are aware of the video but have not made any arrests yet.
Keir Starmer issues defiant response following Unite the Kingdom rally
Davey calls for Musk to be sanctioned
Sir Ed Davey is leading calls for tech billionaire Elon Musk to be sanctioned after calling for the “dissolution of Parliament” during a speech to demonstrators.
The Lib Dem leader announced he has written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage “urging them to join me in condemning Elon Musk's dangerous remarks inciting violence yesterday” and to consider sanctions against the tech billionaire.
He added: “As leaders, we must stand together and make clear Musk will face serious consequences for these actions.”
In a speech to attendees of the weekend’s Tommy Robinson rally, Musk claimed a “dissolution of Parliament” is needed and said “massive uncontrolled migration” was contributing to the “destruction of Britain”.
He also told the crowd that “violence is coming” and that “you either fight back or you die”.
Quickly after the speech, Sir Ed had issued a statement on social media saying British democracy is “too precious to be a plaything for foreign tech barons”.
Thousands turn out for Tommy Robinson rally in central London
Below we remind you of the scale of the weekend’s protests, understood to be the largest right-wing demonstration in UK history.
Elon Musk tells Tommy Robinson protest ‘violence is coming’ in call for change in UK government
Elon Musk calls for change of UK government at Tommy Robinson rally
Dozens of police officers injured and 25 arrests as huge Tommy Robinson rally marred by violence
Dozens of police officers injured as huge Tommy Robinson rally marred by violence
Those who hurt police 'will face full force of law', home secretary vows
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that protesters who attacked and injured police officers would "face the full force of the law".
"The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to this nation. I thank the police who worked hard to ensure much of today's protest was peaceful," Mahmood said after the rally.
"Anyone taking part in criminal activity will face the full force of the law," she said.
Met says more arrests to come
The Met said officers were working to identify other people involved in the disorder on Saturday, with a view to making further arrests “in the coming days and weeks”.
Twenty-four people have already been arrested for a range of offences, including affray, violent disorder, assault and criminal damage, after both events began largely without incident.