Conflicts erupt during anti-immigrant protests across the United Kingdom
In recent weeks, cities across the United Kingdom have seen a surge in anti-immigrant protests, with significant demonstrations taking place in London and Manchester. These events, fueled by social media rumours and political rhetoric, have led to clashes and several arrests.
On July 22, 2025, an anti-migrant protest erupted near the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London. The protest, involving far-right figures, required police intervention to prevent escalation. Similar protests were also seen in Manchester, where clashes were reported and nine arrests have been made so far, seven of them for public order offenses.
The protests are part of a wider pattern of heightened anti-immigration activism and far-right agitation in UK cities. These events reflect ongoing frustrations over the UK’s immigration system, including record numbers of arrivals via small boats and a large asylum backlog exceeding 75,000 cases.
The context of these clashes also includes the previous year’s "summer of discontent" in 2024, when hate-fueled unrest occurred across nearly 30 towns and cities, with reported racist attacks including mosque vandalism and community checkpoints targeting minorities. This environment of racial tension has been exacerbated by the government's tough rhetoric on immigration, often avoiding direct acknowledgement of racism or Islamophobia behind the violence.
The impact on racial relations in London, Manchester, and other cities has been deeply negative, with increased polarization and fear among immigrant and minority communities. Anti-fascist groups have organized counter-protests to resist far-right nationalism and to support migrants, but the period has seen escalating hostility, both on the streets and in social discourse.
During the Manchester protest, a 66-year-old protester expressed sentiments against immigration, stating "Send them back to where they came from, don't let them in, just stop them from getting here, we have hotels full of migrants and we have our own homeless on the streets begging for food." However, Brendan O'Reilly, another 66-year-old protester, stated that the march in Manchester was in favor of re-immigration.
Incidents during these types of mobilizations have been occurring frequently in the UK, with most of them taking place in the London borough of Epping in recent weeks. Anti-racist activists also participated in the protests in Manchester, aiming to counter the far-right groups and support immigrant and minority communities.
The government announced additional funding to combat irregular migration, while political parties debate tougher policies. However, the question remains whether these measures will be enough to quell the rising tensions and restore a sense of unity in UK cities.
[1] AFP News Agency, "Clashes during anti-immigrant protests in UK cities," July 22, 2025. [2] The Guardian, "UK's summer of discontent: A year of hate-fuelled unrest," August 2024. [3] BBC News, "Record numbers of small boat migrants arrive in UK," July 2025.
- The unsettling discourse surrounding immigration in the UK extends beyond just politics, encroaching into general news, culture, and crime-and-justice sectors, as evidenced by the sustained anti-immigrant protests and ensuing clashes in major cities like London and Manchester.
- The ongoing anti-immigrant protests, fueled by political rhetoric and social media Rumours, have not only sparked incidents of public disorder but have also contributed to a deepening divide and fear within immigrant and minority communities, significantly impacting racial relations in the UK.
