‘Make Britain Great Again’ hats and banners were spotted at the rally (Picture: A.Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

Far-right protesters came face to face with anti-fascists chanting ‘Nazi scum’ at a ‘Day for Freedom’ rally in London.

Prominent far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Milo Yiannopoulos spoke at the rally, which organisers claimed was held as their right to free speech is under threat.

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Members of various groups including the Football Lads Alliance and Veterans Against Terrorism marched from Hyde Park to Whitehall.

There had been fears of clashes after the Anti-Fascist Student Network urged people to take part in a counter-protest.


However, the day passed largely without violence – although video footage showed a line of police officers separating the two groups as tensions came to a head.

Brief skirmish before #DayForFreedom rally hosted by alt-right figures upset about losing their Twitter accounts. pic.twitter.com/Gyc0qVrpjo — Henry Langston (@Henry_Langston) May 6, 2018

Members of various right-wing groups came together, while anti-fascists opposed them (Picture: A.Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

Tommy Robinson’s Twitter account has been deleted over his controversial comments (Picture: A.Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

There were minor scuffles but the day passed largely without incident (Picture: A.Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

Temperatures and tensions rose on a hot day in the capital (Picture: A.Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

Police kept the two groups apart during the day of action (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

The rally was organised after what members of the far-right perceived as an attack on free speech.



Robinson has been banned from Twitter, while Canadian activist Lauren Southern, who spoke via video link, has been given a lifetime ban from entering Britain.

That came after she handed out racist leaflets in Luton.

Speaking before the event, Robinson said: ‘This is bigger than me or any of us as individuals so we have to stand up together to defend our freedom of speech.’

Mark Meechan, the YouTuber who was spared jail for teaching his girlfriend’s dog to perform Nazi salutes, was also among the speakers, as was Ukip leader Gerard Batten.

One man was arrested in connection to a public order offence and possession of Class A drugs, police said.