Tommy Robinson's festival of free speech: rights or risk?

Why can't we be proud?

That familiar refrain crops up whenever critics challenge the Union Jack or St George’s flag, now flying across Britain. Throughout history, these flags have often been wielded to signal who belongs in the country and who doesn’t. Today, anti-migrant, anti-refugee, and Islamophobic narratives are on the rise, coinciding with immigration topping voter concerns. The current environment draws chilling parallels with the hostility faced by minority communities in the past. Yes, wave the flag and be proud of your national identity, but for many, it’s impossible to separate that display from the broader context.

On 13 September, one of the people most responsible for making these symbols feel threatening to minority communities in the UK, Tommy Robinson, born Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), is promoting a protest. A so-called festival of free speech, promising to “unite the kingdom.” Yet everything about him and his movement’s history tells a different story: EDL rallies have featured Nazi salutes, racist chanting, and violent clashes with minority communities. Even since leaving the movement, Robinson’s trajectory has rarely deviated from these patterns.

Robinson’s rally draws particular attention because it is framed as a fight for free speech. In the UK, freedom of expression has always been balanced against laws protecting public order, equality, and individual safety. Recent events highlight tensions in applying this principle. In July 2024, Lucy Connolly was convicted under the Online Safety Act after calling for violence against asylum seekers following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport by a misidentified teenager. The case has been cited by figures like Nigel Farage, who called for the act’s repeal on 3 September, describing it as authoritarian and dystopian. 

As these debates become talking points to galvanise supporters, clearly visible in this upcoming protest, the climate appears increasingly fraught. Many feel their concerns are ignored by the government, particularly regarding immigration and asylum seekers, and interpret restrictions on speech as evidence of being marginalised for their views. This creates a complex situation in which the desire to protect communities from harm exists alongside claims of silenced voices. The danger arises when the language of liberty is used to justify actions or speech that intimidate, threaten, or cause harm, highlighting the tension between defending a principle and enabling hostility.

Why this matters now

The boundaries of free speech remain unsettled. How far it should extend, and at what point it risks causing more harm than good, are questions surfacing not in theory, but in public rallies, online forums, and courtrooms.

This weekend, the stakes will be on full display: some 150,000 “patriots” are expected to flood London for Tommy Robinson’s festival of free speech, while tens of thousands are set to join Stand Up to Racism in an opposition rally backed by unions. Both marches are due to start in central London at approximately the same time, prompting police concerns. 

In the midst of this, we encourage you to stay safe and aware in London this weekend, as the tensions around free speech and public safety unfold in real time.