Tommy Robinson march - LIVE: Thousands join extremist protest after Robinson charged with terror offence

A friend of Tommy Robinson who has claimed he was with the activist in Spain before his arrest has spoken of Robinson’s wish to be there with them.

Jumping on stage in Parliament Square to address thousands of Union Jack-clad supporters, he said: “What [Robinson] will also want is for everyone to play the game today and do it right. And when we leave after a glorious day we have to do it in mind that people are envious of us because we are all together as one.

“They will try to prod you and poke you and get a reaction from you. Don’t give them what they want. Don’t let the mainstream media report... one little misdemeanour tomorrow so all this goes to waste.”

Introducing a song called ‘Just one touch from the King, changes everything’, singer Rikky Doolan leading his Patriots Gospel Band launches into a passionate defence of the activist.

He tells the crowd gathering at Parliament Square: “Before I came to our lord Jesus Christ I was homeless on the streets of Manchester. But just one touch from him radicalised my life.

“And now I’m here with you. We thank that same Jesus Christ for the life of Tommy Robinson, we thank him for the heart, the spirit and the passion of that man.”

Thousands of supporters are being regaled by a rock cover of Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory in Parliament Square.

The singer barks at the end: “C’mon somebody celebrate this England, this Scotland, this Ireland this Wales!”

“We shall never be moved!”

The crowd chant “Oh Tommy, Tommy!” and “We want Starmer out!”

The singer urges the crowd to high five eachother before shouting “All British lives matter.”

Activists have resumed their march towards Parliament Square in central London ahead of a rally.

Demonstrators at the front of the march are carrying a sign with “Two tier Keir fuelled the riots” written on it.

“Bring back Rwanda” and “Stop the Boats” placards were also hoisted by demonstrators – some of whom were drinking cans and glasses of alcohol.

Some appear to chant “Who the f*** is Allah?” and “We want Tommy out!”

An activist has stressed to the crowd and press in central London that they are not here “just for the Kaba family”, but for all “grieving” families who are “bereaved at the hands of the state”.

She spoke of “collective grief”, “devastation” and “disappointment”, adding: “We have each other. We are strong. We are powerful.”

The speaker finished by leading a chant of “we believe that we will win” and “the people united will never be defeated”.

A counter-protest organised by Stand Up to Racism, has called on its supporters to “take to the streets” in a “massive anti-fascist demonstration”.

The march from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street has now started.

The front of the group is holding a banner which reads: “United Families and Friends Campaign. No more deaths in custody”.

Activists are holding signs reading “No justice”, “no one forgotten, nothing forgiven” and “no to hatred, no to fascism”.

Protesters are also holding images of people they say died in custody.

The Stand Up To Racism counter-protest is forming up in Regent Street St James’s.

The march is set to begin at 1pm, heading up and around Piccadilly Circus, down Haymarket and round into the top of Whitehall.

The assembly area of the far-right march has been adjusted after attendees set off from Victoria Station over an hour early.

The Met Police said: “The ‘Uniting the Kingdom’ march is forming up in Victoria Street. Working with the event organisers we have moved the forming up area north to the junction with Buckingham Gate to help keep the area around the station clear. The march will set off at 12.30pm.”