Organisers say half a million are taking part – though police disagree
Getting an accurate picture of the number of people attending a march is always difficult, but today’s organisers say they believe half a million people have gathered in London.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall:
double quotation markOur estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.
The Met Police say their initial estimate is more like 50,000 people. They concede, however, that it is hard to get an accurate number as marchers are so dispersed throughout central London.
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Updated at 16.08 CET
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Closing summary
The Guardian’s live coverage of today’s protests in London is coming to an end.
Organisers said 500,000 people – including politicians, musicians, trade unionists and members of the Together Alliance – turned out for the rally against the far right, though police estimates put the figures at a tenth of that. Here’s a round-up of what happened today:
Speaking to the crowd, Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised Reform’s response to the US-Israel war on Iran, as well as telling the crowds that “the tide is turning” on the far right. “There have been dark times. I know people have been scared, and we have been afraid, but days like this are here to send a message, a message to Tommy Robinson, to Nigel Farage, to those who appease them,” he said.
The Met Police said they made 25 arrests at the protest. The force said this included 18 people who staged a protest in support of the banned group Palestine Action outside New Scotland Yard. Another two people were arrested for climbing up the National Gallery columns.
Members of UB40, the Birmingham reggae band who were active in the anti-fascist campaigns of the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism, attended and spoke at today’s demonstration. The group’s drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech. The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”
An estimated 1,000 people joined the event to march against the Christian nationalism promoted by the likes of Tommy Robinson. The Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, told a church service before the demonstration that she stood with “all people of goodwill who seek to build diverse and inclusive communities” and she and other Christians are “committed to building bridges rather than barriers and to living out Jesus’s command to love our neighbours”.
A small group of counter-protesters attended the march. They were pictured holding Israeli, American and Iranian lion and sun flags as the march began. Images on social media showed other protesters on the main march holding flags of the current Iranian regime.
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Updated at 20.26 CET
Met police say protests concluded with total of 25 arrests
In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said today’s marches against the far right had finished. It had imposed a ban on the rallies continuing after 5pm.
The post said that in addition to the 18 people arrested for supporting Palestine Action and the two for climbing up the National Gallery columns, there were five other arrests bringing the total to 25.
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Images posted on social media showed some protesters carrying flags of the Iranian regime.
In a post on X, journalist Paul Mason said he heard “Zionists go home” chants from what he described as “far left antisemitic groups”. In the post he also said some people were carrying, and in one case selling, the flag of the Iranian regime.
3/ Unfortunately there were people carrying and in one case selling Iranian regime flags … and also offensive “Zionists go home” chants from far left antisemitic groups… if it were up to me they would have been kicked off the demo … pic.twitter.com/wrC22T8rgx
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) March 28, 2026
As reported earlier, a small group of counter protesters waved Israeli flags, as well as the pre-1979 revolution Iranian sun and lion flag, which has become a symbol of opposition in the country.
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In his speech, Green Party leader Zack Polanski also told the crowd: “The tide is turning, there have been dark times. I know people have been scared, and we have been afraid, but days like this are here to send a message, a message to Tommy Robinson, to Nigel Farage, to those who appease them.
“The message is, when we turn up, in our hundreds, in our thousands, in our hundreds of thousands, we are unstoppable.”
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Reform UK’s true motives clear to see, Zack Polanski says
Green Party Leader Zack Polanski has criticised Reform UK and Nigel Farage’s response to the US-Israel war on Iran as being an indicator more of the same in his speech at the Together Alliance march.
Polanski said: “People have seen Reform for who they really are. They would have dragged us into this unpopular and illegal war and we say today – this is not in our name, this is not our war!”
Earlier this month, Farage said: “There are differing opinions as to whether we should physically join the attacks. I, as leader, am saying to you, if we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.”
This contrasts with his first public comments after the start of the war, when he said that he was in favour of “regime change” in Iran and told a press conference in Westminster: “We should do all we can to support the operation.”
Zack Polanski speaks during the ‘Together Against The Far Right’ rally. Photograph: Alishia Abodunde/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 19.13 CET
Together is an alliance of hundreds of civil society organisations united against the far right.
According to their website, its members represent over 7 million people. Its representatives work as teachers, firefighters, care workers, cleaners, midwives, engineers.
In the lead up to the protest, it’s promo ramped up and that has resulted in such a strong turnout for today’s march.
Here’s a video introducing them:
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Updated at 18.33 CET
Police arrest 18 Palestine Action supporters outside Met headquarters
The Metropolitan police have arrested 18 Palestine Action supporters after announcing on Wednesday that it would resume taking action against those supporting the proscribed organisation.
The force said in a social media post on Saturday afternoon that 18 people are staging a protest in support of the banned group outside New Scotland Yard.
A picture shared on its X account shows the demonstrators sitting on the steps in front of the Westminster building and is accompanied with the caption: “Arrests are now under way outside New Scotland Yard.”
Pro-Palestine protesters staged a sit-in outside New Scotland Yard, holding signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”. Photograph: Andrea Domeniconi/Story Picture AgencyShare
Updated at 18.09 CET
An estimated 1000 people joined the event to march against Christian nationalism.
The Bishop of Croydon, Rosemarie Mallett, told a church service before the demonstration that she stood with “all people of goodwill who seek to build diverse and inclusive communities” and she and other Christians are “committed to building bridges rather than barriers and to living out Jesus’s command to love our neighbours”.
In December, Tommy Robinson led another “unite the kingdom” event in London, with a carol concert claiming to “put the Christ back into Christmas”.
Earlier this year, a number of Church of England bishops voiced their rejection of “the use of Christian symbols” by people trying to intimidate others, in the face of community anxiety about the flying of St George’s and Union flags.
People holding anti-far right signs at the protest in London Photograph: Andy Rain/EPAShare
Updated at 17.40 CET
Members of UB40, the Birmingham reggae band who were active in the anti-fascist campaigns of the 1980s such as Rock Against Racism, attended and spoke at today’s demonstration.
The group’s drummer Jimmy Brown stood beside his bandmates as he delivered a speech.
The musician said the reggae group has visited “all kinds of places” to perform, adding: “One thing that we’ve come to the conclusion of is that working people around the world have more in common with each other than they do with their elite, and the billionaire class.”
He was met with cheers and thanked the crowd, adding: “There are more of us than there is them and I want to thank the organisers here. This has been such an amazing turnout, it’s absolutely incredible.”
Members of UB40 speak in central London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAShare
Updated at 18.51 CET
Here’s some aerial footage of the march
Huge crowds march through central London against far right – fronts loopShare
Small group of counter-protesters present on route of march
A small group of counter-protesters have attended today’s Together Alliance march in central London.
They were pictured holding Israeli, American and Iranian lion and sun flags as the march began.
Counter protesters gather in central London as a pro-Palestine march walks past. Photograph: Maja Smiejkowska/PAShare
Updated at 16.42 CET
Organisers say half a million are taking part – though police disagree
Getting an accurate picture of the number of people attending a march is always difficult, but today’s organisers say they believe half a million people have gathered in London.
Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the Together Alliance coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall:
double quotation markOur estimate is now that there are half a million people on this demonstration – the biggest demonstration ever against the far right. And it gives us all confidence to carry on. Thank you very much.
The Met Police say their initial estimate is more like 50,000 people. They concede, however, that it is hard to get an accurate number as marchers are so dispersed throughout central London.
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Updated at 16.08 CET
Here’s the Guardian’s Robyn Vinter with Woody, dressed as Big Oil…
Robyn protest loop ShareRobyn Vinter
At the march
Attendees have brought out some of their best costumes, including Jesus and the grim reaper.
Woody, part of a group called Cut The Ties to Fossil Fuels, who was inside the grim reaper costume told the Guardian he had come “dressed as Big Oil”.
“Big Oil are one of the major funders of Reform UK,” he said. “We’re here to make that link that we need to cut the ties to fossil fuels.
“Big Oil’s tentacles reach across through many industries, and it’s those enablers of the fossil fuel industry that, as a movement, Cut the Ties to Fossil Fuels, target those enablers.”
He added: “I’m mid-fifties now, and I hear people talking about left and right in a way that I haven’t heard since I was in school.”
Woody said it was important to unite on the left and work together, which is something the right tend to do well “despite having massive differences”.
“It’s a numbers game in a way. This is really important to send a message. So I’m really excited about being here today and being part of a much bigger thing.”
Plenty of other environmental groups are also present.
The red rebels, from Extinction Rebellion, walked silently in the opposite direction to the march with white painted faces and red robes. They said they were drawing attention to climate change.
Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
A reminder for those attending, police have imposed public order conditions banning today’s marches from continuing after 5pm.
Video of marchersShare
Updated at 19.38 CET
More pictures are coming in now that really show the scale of the march:
Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
There are a number of notable politicians and activists across the progressive left engaging in today’s march. Green party leader Zack Polanski is expected to speak, while attendees are expecting to hear from the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Labour MP Dawn Butler, as well as trade union leaders.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAMP Diane Abbott. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAJeremy Corbyn Photograph: Aaron Chown/PAThe Green party MP Hannah Spencer. Photograph: Hannah McKay/ReutersShare
Updated at 15.10 CET
Robyn Vinter
At the march
There are crowds as far as the eye can see along Park Lane, with people of all ages and demographics taking part in the march.
A cacophony of chanting, whistling and drum banging can be heard among the thousands gathered here.
A group from Leicester Stand Up to Racism is shouting: “No borders, no nations, stop deportations!”
Others carry signs reading, “You cannot divide us”, “refugees are welcome here” and “this world belongs to everyone”.
Demonstrators carry a figure depicting Donald Trump. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Robyn Vinter is north of England correspondent at the Guardian
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Updated at 15.50 CET
