The Liverpool FC anthem, which has become a symbol of unity, was used to end a far right march in London yesterday
The Unite the Kingdom march yesterday (May 16)
The Unite the Kingdom march yesterday (May 16)(Image: Getty Images)
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West Derby MP Ian Byrne has slammed the use of You'll Never Walk Alone at the "Unite the Kingdom" march in London. The rally was organised by Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and took place in central London yesterday (March 16).
Speakers at the event included Apprentice candidate Katie Hopkins, television personality Ant Middleton, former actor Laurence Fox and former Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen. The speeches were brought to an end with a rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone.
Footage has circulated online of the performance and Mr Byrne has taken to social media platform X to criticise the the Liverpool FC anthem being used in association with a far-right march when Yaxley-Lennon told supporters to prepare for "battle of Britain". The Labour MP said: "You’ll Never Walk Alone has been sung at funerals, memorials, moments of tragedy and moments of unity across the world.
"It’s a song about collective solidarity. So it’s karma that the worst ever version of YNWA took place at the worst ever place it has ever been sung.
"The whole premise of Yaxley Lennon’s march is opposed to the very meaning of YNWA. Let’s never have a repeat, my soul cannot take it and nor can my ears."
Ian Byrne has slammed the use of You'll Never Walk Alone at the Unite the Kingdom march
Ian Byrne has slammed the use of You'll Never Walk Alone at the Unite the Kingdom march(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
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About 60,000 people are estimated to have joined the Unite the Kingdom march.
Ahead of the rally, the Government blocked 11 foreign nationals, described by Sir Keir Starmer, as “far-right agitators” from entering the UK ahead of the Unite the Kingdom rally.
Right-wing figures claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
Speaking during a visit to a Metropolitan Police command centre in Lambeth on Friday, the Prime Minister said the Unite the Kingdom organisers were “peddling hatred and division, plain and simple”.
He added: “We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law.”
The Metropolitan police planned an "unprecedented" operation yesterday as there was also a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally in the Capital. The force estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 attended the Nakba Day rally.
A total of 43 arrests were made, 20 were linked to the Unite the Kingdom protest, while 12 were affiliated with the Nakba protest, the force added. The remaining 11 arrests were not linked to either group, or their affiliation has not been confirmed, the Met said.
About 4,000 police officers were on duty on Saturday. Four officers were assaulted on Saturday and six were subjected to hate crime offences, the force said in a post on X on Saturday evening.
There were arrests for 11 hate crime related offences. Of those arrested two were allegedly affiliated to the Nakba Day rally and nine to Unite the Kingdom, police said.
They included offences motivated by race, religion, sexuality and disability. A further seven hate crime offences remain under investigation with outstanding suspects. All are from the Nakba Day protest.
Three arrests were as a result of the use of live facial recognition, the Met added. All three were people wanted for failing to appear at court. None were affiliated to the protests taking place the same day.