Far-right activists barred from UK ahead of Tommy Robinson rally

Eleven foreign far-right activists have been blocked from the UK before a rally by Tommy Robinson supporters as Keir Starmer accused him of “peddling hatred and division”. The archbishop of Canterbury urged people to “choose hope”, and faith leaders spoke out before the rally on Saturday, the second of its kind after more than 100,000 attended one last year. Live facial recognition will be used for the first time as part of a protest policing operation, while Public Order Act conditions are being imposed on a big pro-Palestinian march and the self-styled Unite the Kingdom event promoted by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Starmer, who met senior police figures and officers involved in Saturday’s operation, said: “We are in a fight for the soul of this country, and the Unite the Kingdom march this weekend is a stark reminder of exactly what we are up against. Its organisers are peddling hatred and division, plain and simple. Keir Starmer meets the Met police commander Clair Haynes to discuss planning before the weekend’s protests in London. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters “We will block those coming into the UK who seek to incite hatred and violence. …