Police say about 110,000 attending ‘unite the kingdom’ rally in London, with 5,000 counter-protesters – UK politics live

Met Police say ‘difficult to estimate numbers in attendance’ but they believe 110,000 attending rally, with a further 5,000 counter protesters

More than a hundred people have gathered outside Russell Square before the ‘march against fascism’ counter-protest against the ‘unite the kingdom’ march, featuring far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Both are being held in central London on Saturday.

According to the PA news agency, people in Russell Square milled around with placards that said “refugees welcome” and “oppose Tommy Robinson”. Chants of “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here” started at about 11.20am, the news agency reports.

The far right are a menace to the whole of society. Their first targets, asylum seekers and Muslims, are broadening to all migrants, black people and on to trade unionists, all religious minorities and anti-racists.

This is going to be big, but we are also talking about movement to the right of Reform UK and we still don’t know where it is going.