London anti-far right march – latest: Half a million people join protest as extremists ‘intimidated away’

An estimated half a million people have gathered in London for the Together Alliance march against the far right, organisers said.

Rally co-organiser Kevin Courtney, chairman of the coalition, told crowds gathered on Whitehall: “Our 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.”

Hannah Spencer has been seen joining people taking part in the Together Alliance march through central London to demonstrate against the far-right on Saturday.

The Green Party won a historic by-election in Gorton and Denton in February.

Police have issued an update on the progress of today’s anti-racism march in central London.

The Metropolitan Police said the front of the Together Alliance march is walking along Piccadilly with the back remaining in Park Lane.

A pro-Palestine march also happening is now merging with the main crowd, after having passed a counter protest.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is one of a number of politicians who have joined today’s anti-racism march in central London.

Your Party co-founders Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn are also in attendance.

A small group of counter-protesters have attended today’s Together Alliance march in central London.

A small number of people were pictured holding Israeli flags as the march began.

There is a heavy police presence on Park Lane and Piccadilly in central London as the Together Alliance’s anti-racism march sets off towards Whitehall.

Police were seen lining the streets in preparation for the march, while stewards helping to organise the rally hand out maps of the route and marshal the protesters.

Today’s march against the far-right has gotten underway in central London, with aerial images showing the gathered crowds.

Event organisers, Together Alliance, shared the image on social media and wrote: “Biggest march against the far-right in British history.

“Happening now: Park Lane to Whitehall.

“You won’t want to miss it.”

Crawford Logan, 76, from Stirling, Scotland, said he wanted to support both the protest against the far right, and the pro-Palestine march also taking place on Saturday.

He said: “There is a kind of dual purpose to this: there’s this march about the far right, but there’s also the Stop the War coalition as well, so you’ve got two major events on, and they are in parallel I think with the No Kings protests that are going on in the States today.

“And of course, it’s just very dangerous times.”

Asked whether he is worried about the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as a political force, Mr Logan said: “Absolutely. The people that think that Reform is the answer are not cottoning on to the fact that it’s actually just old Tories in disguise, and it’s still the same wealthy people who are stripping the country bare, and people who are being stripped bare still think that Reform is the answer.”