The right-wing protesters who marched on Saturday describe themselves as “patriots”, and say Britain is under threat from migrants and Islamification. Their critics, including most lawmakers, say their number includes racists, far-right supporters and soccer hooligans bent on violence.
Yaxley-Lennon, who was accused by some media and politicians of inflaming tensions which led to the July riots, was not present at the march as he is being held in police custody ahead of a contempt of court case to be heard on Monday.
On Friday, he was also charged under terrorism laws with failing to provide his mobile phone PIN code when he left Britain in July.
Saturday’s protests came as official figures showed the number of asylum seekers crossing the Channel this year from Europe in small boats – an issue that has angered many in Britain – had hit 29,578, more than for the whole of 2023.
