“That fascists have been given permission to rally in Trafalgar Square is a travesty. Events in Trafalgar Square should be inclusive and open to all, not for those that incite racism, Islamophobia, violence and hatred.”
By Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor
Only three weeks after Reform UK made the biggest electoral breakthrough by a far-right party in British history, an emboldened Tommy Robinson will be mobilising thousands through central London to Trafalgar Square this Saturday.
That fascists have been given permission to rally in Trafalgar Square is a travesty. Events in Trafalgar Square should be inclusive and open to all, not for those that incite racism, Islamophobia, violence and hatred. In June, around 5,000 mobilised for the Robinson hate march. Our movement must unite and mobilise in our thousands against this threat.
Robinson hailed Reform UK’s 5 MPs, 4 million votes and 14% – 3rd largest – vote share as a victory. This follows the European trend of far-right parties polling in the top three and the recent European Parliament elections showed an increase in support for far-right parties across Western Europe. The rise in support for the far right has occurred in the context of stagnant growth, very high inflation in 2022 and 2023 leading to severe falls in living standards and real wages, with racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism being stirred up to distract, divide and scapegoat communities. It’s exactly these same conditions under the last Tory government that have created fertile ground for Reform UK and Tommy Robinson mobilisations.
During the election campaign links between Reform UK candidates and Tommy Robinson were revealed. Reform UK’s candidate for North West Leicestershire Noel Matthews in 2018 tweeted: “Tommy Robinson Drew Attention to ‘Grooming Gangs’. Britain Has Persecuted Him”. Additionally, a Twitter account in the name of Kate Bosley, the party’s Reading West & Mid Berkshire candidate, shared a video and a Twitter post by Tommy Robinson. These people remained Reform UK candidates and were defended by the party leadership.
Nigel Farage – Reform UK leader and now MP for Clacton-on-Sea – whipped up Islamophobia and attempted to make immigration the central issue, wrongly linking problems in the NHS and education to immigration when the real problem was a chronic lack of investment under the Tories for 14 years. Robinson is using the same racist and Islamophobic rhetoric to mobilise for this Saturday’s hate march.
Labour’s huge majority at the general election was due to a Tory collapse not a surge in support for Labour. Labour polled only +1.6% from the previous election, however, its numerical vote was down to 9.6 million from 10.3 million in 2019 and 12.8 million in 2017. Meanwhile, 23% of 2019 Tory voters voted Reform UK in 2024.
It was Suella Braverman as Tory Home Secretary who blew the dog whistle and emboldened violent fascist and far-right mobs of Robinson supporters to run riot on the streets of London on Armistice Day in 2023, following her article in The Times ahead of the largest Palestine demonstration, which said that “Unfortunately, there is a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters. During Covid, why was it that lockdown objectors were given no quarter by public order police yet Black Lives Matters demonstrators were enabled, allowed to break rules and even greeted with officers taking the knee?”
Braverman wound up far-right and fascist thugs throughout her tenure as Home Secretary. From describing refugees as an “invasion” of the southern coast to the toxic “stop the boats” campaign, this inflammatory rhetoric led to violent attacks on asylum seekers in Knowsley and fascist demonstrations by Patriotic Alternative and others up and down the country.
Recent reports suggest Braverman could defect to Reform UK. The likes of Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick – the standard bearers of the most reactionary Tories – could take the leadership of the Conservative Party. A recent poll of Tory grassroots members showed that half favour a merger with Reform UK. During the election campaign, Nigel Farage indicated that his goal is the 2029 general election. A Reform UK and Tory realignment, with racism at the heart of it, could win the next election. This, along with fascist street mobilisations, indicate what we must unite and mobilise against.
How Labour responds to this will be crucial. The scrapping of the Rwanda Act is welcomed. However, this weekend’s announcement in the Sun of the Home Office deploying 1,000 staff to raid car washes, nail and hair salons in order to deport people is the exact opposite of what is needed. This is the type of hostile environment policy that led to the Windrush scandal. Labour must challenge racism not concede to the anti-migrant hostility of the Tory right and Reform UK. Labour needs to mobilise more voters at the next election and that requires mobilising anti-racist voters. Attempting to out-racist the racists will be disastrous for Labour.
The lessons of history on defeating fascist movements have been demonstrated on many occasions. We must unite against fascism – that means putting differences aside on other issues. Racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism that fascists stir up to build support must be challenged, not conceded to. We must mobilise against racism and fascism. Join us this Saturday 27th July to stand up to racism, Islamophobia and racism and unite against Tommy Robinson’s fascist thugs.
- The “Unite Against Tommy Robinson – Fascists Not Welcome” demonstration takes place this Saturday, July 27th, from 12PM. The march is assembling in Russell Square, London, WC1B 5EH.
- Sabby Dhalu is the Co-Convenor of Stand Up To Racism.
- You can follow Sabby on Twitter/X here or Stand Up To Racism on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
- If you support Labour Outlook’s work amplifying the voices of left movements and struggles here and internationally, please consider becoming a supporter on Patreon.
