London is gearing up for what the Metropolitan Police has called potentially "one of the busiest days for policing in recent years," as tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on central London for two major demonstrations. The Met will deploy 4,000 officers, along with armoured vehicles, horses, dogs, drones, and helicopters, to police the far-right Unite the Kingdom (UTK) rally, organised by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson. Officers will also be granted extra stop-and-search powers without requiring suspicion of an offence, applicable to both the UTK march and the pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally, which will take place separately. Adding to the chaos, tens of thousands of football fans are expected at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final.

For the first time at a demonstration, police will use live facial recognition cameras, and organisers will be held personally responsible for the behaviour of the speakers they invite. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the "unprecedented" operation could cost the force £4.5 million. Police estimate about 50,000 people will attend the UTK rally, while the pro-Palestine march is expected to draw between 15,000 and 40,000. Last September's UTK rally overwhelmed expectations after more than 150,000 people flooded Parliament Square. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the far-right surge as "a fight for the soul of this country," adding that the UTK march is "a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple."

Amnesty International condemned the UTK rally as "a march that brings racism, violence and fear to the streets of London." UK chief executive Kerry Moscogiuri blamed "tech companies profiting off the amplification of hate online, funding by the likes of US tech billionaire Robert Shillman," who financed a fellowship that paid Robinson about £5,000 a month via the rightwing Canadian media site Rebel News. Moscogiuri called on the government to "do more to protect racialised communities from this rising tide of violence and hate." A Hope Not Hate poll of 45,000 people found that 17% of Brits like Robinson, rising to 34% among men aged 25-34. Director Nick Lowles warned that "his reach and support is like nothing we have seen before."

Justice Secretary David Lammy said the organisers "are spreading hatred and division," adding, "They do not reflect the Britain I'm proud of. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but if protest turns violent, we will act swiftly." Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley insisted that both protests are being policed "on exactly the same basis, under the same legal framework," with organisers facing consequences for unlawful extremism or hate speech. However, pro-Palestine march organiser John Rees accused Rowley of being "reckless" with free speech, warning of a "very dark place" if police can arrest speakers mid-speech. Sara Husseini of the British Palestinian Committee said many Palestinians feel unable to speak openly about Israel's war on Gaza, with some afraid to wear Palestinian symbols or keffiyehs in public, describing the atmosphere as "cruelty" toward those grieving loved ones.

Starmer also issued a warning to pro-Palestine marchers, saying that while the cause of a Palestinian state is just, "it is not hard to find individuals who abuse it to spread antisemitism and intimidate Jewish communities." Prosecutors have been told to consider whether protest placards, banners, and chants viewed on social media may amount to stirring up hatred. The government has blocked 11 people, including a Polish far-right MEP and Canadian supporter Ezra Levant, from entering the UK for the event. Starmer wrote, "I refuse to stand by and allow that poison to be imported into the UK."