Why London’s Nightlife Is Dying | Last Orders

Oct 12, 2024 | Matthew Lesh – public policy fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs and country manager for Freshwater Strategy – joins Chris Snowdon and Tom Slater for the latest episode of Last Orders. They discuss the departure of London’s ‘night tsar’, Scotland’s regressive experiment with ‘minimum pricing’ for alcohol, and the battle to open a chip shop in a Welsh seaside town.

'We Want Our Country Back': Thousands March at Tommy Robinson Rally

Jul 27, 2024 | Thousands of protestors have gathered in central London for a march led by Tommy Robinson with some chanting “we want our country back”.

Streets around the Royal Courts of Justice were blocked by demonstrators wearing Union Flag colours and flying flags as they were heard singing Rule, Britannia!

One demonstrator was seen climbing on top of a phone box, while others held placards that read “Not far right, just right”.



Tommy Robinson ‘could face jail’ over film screening at London protest: Far-right activist accused of contempt of court for making documentary, in which he repeats false claims »

'We Feel Completely Alone' Israeli Journalist on Being Jewish in London

Nov 17, 2023 | In this episode of the Jewish Chronicle's new podcast: Israel War Briefing, Jake is joined by Israeli journalist and podcaster Elad Simchayoff from Israel's Channel 12 News. They discuss the reality of being an Israeli in London, the anti-Israel protest movement and antisemitism in the diaspora.

You are NOT alone! I have ALWAYS stood by you Jews. I was raised to do so. And I have never forgotten about the Holocaust. Being interested in history, and being raised in post-WWII Britain, it has never felt distant to me. Further, over the years, I have always brought the atrocities of Nazi Germany to people's attention on my blog in both English and German – I am fluent in German even though I am a Brit – and sometimes I also post about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism in French, too. So please don't think that all Brits are as you have found to your great disappointment in London. We are not. All of my friends are against anti-Semitism and are horrified at the mere mention of the Holocaust. We all hold Jews in high esteem. In fact, I recently went through a period in which I considered converting to Judaism! So please do not think that all Brits are alike. We are not. – © Mark Alexander

Hundreds of Thousands Rally for Gaza in London as Police Arrest Far-right Protesters

THE OBSERVER: Huge attendance at marsh will add to pressure on Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to back calls for ceasefire in Middle East conflict

A pro-Palestinian protest on Park Lane in London on Saturday, marching from Hyde Park to the US embassy in Vauxhall. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA
Hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully through central London yesterday to protest against Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza, following a week of intense political debate over the policing of sensitive demonstrations.

The Metropolitan Police said around 300,000 people had converged on the capital from all parts of the country, while organisers of the pro-Palestinian event put the number closer to 800,000 and claimed it was one of the biggest marches in British history.

The attendance will add to political pressure on both the prime minister Rishi Sunak and the Labour leader Keir Starmer to back calls for a ceasefire in the conflict, which began after a Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on 7 October, murdering 1,200 Israelis and taking around 240 hostages. » | Mark Townsend, Tobi Thomas, Rajeev Syal and Toby Helm | Saturday, November 11, 2023


300.000 Menschen bei propalästinensischer Großdemo in London: In der Nähe der Demonstrationsroute werden mehr als 90 britische Nationalisten und Hooligans festgenommen. Die Polizei hatte Angriffe auf die Demonstranten befürchtet. »

Pro-Palestine March in London Set to Draw Hundreds of Thousands of People

THE GUARDIAN: Organisers say rally on Armistice Day could be one of the largest political marches in British history

Pro-Palestinian protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza march in London on 28 October.Photograph: Guy Smallman/Getty Images
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday, as the political row over Suella Braverman’s public criticism of the policing of protests rumbles on.

More than 2,000 police officers will be on duty for a “significant” operation across remembrance weekend, the Metropolitan police said on Friday, with 1,000 officers called up from outside the capital.

People will start to assemble at about midday at Park Lane, before beginning to march at 12.45pm.

“We invite all people of conscience to join us in peacefully marching,” said a spokesperson for one of the organisers of the march, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, adding that the group was working with police to ensure public safety. “More than 500,000 people are expected to converge in London, making it one of the largest political marches in British history,” they said. » | Donna Ferguson | Saturday, November 11, 2023

Police Ramp Up Presence in London for Major Pro-Palestinian March: More than 100,000 people were expected to gather in Britain’s capital on Saturday for a demonstration that has become the center of a political controversy. »

The Met may get its ‘peaceful’ march, but British society will pay the terrible price: Islamists are being emboldened to take over public spaces and fill them with anti-Semitic hate »

Met Police warn they will use force to stop Armistice Day being disrupted: Scotland Yard says officers will take ‘robust, rapid and agile action’ as up to a million people prepare to march in London »

Crowds gather for London pro-Palestinian rally as police brace for clashes: LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Protesters gathered in central London on Saturday ahead of a pro-Palestinian march expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people, with police launching a major operation due to fears of clashes on the day of remembrance for war veterans. / The "National March for Palestine", due to start after 1200 GMT, is the latest in a series of rallies in the British capital to show support for the Palestinians since Israel launched an air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip following the Hamas group's Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel. »

London Protesters 'Glorify Hamas Terror Attack on Israel'

Protesters wave a placard depicting a Hamas bulldozer crashing through a security fence
THE TELEGRAPH: Protesters were accused of glorifying the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel with placards depicting a Hamas bulldozer crashing through a security fence.

Demonstrators at a rally in central London also laid out pretend bloodied corpses signifying babies killed in airstrikes - but refused to accept that Israeli babies had been killed by Hamas terrorists in the massacre that sparked the month-long conflict.

On a day that marked yet more protests in London and in major cities around the UK, campaigners warned that the capital was becoming a “no-go zone” for Jews. They complained that police - despite promises to get tough - had watched on as crowds chanted antisemitic “genocidal” slogans and distributed “terrorist-supporting” pamphlets.

Scotland Yard said more than 1,300 officers were on duty for the rally at which “the vast majority” of people “demonstrated peacefully”.

Karen Findlay, Commander for the Metropolitan Police, said “It is disappointing that various splinter groups were again responsible for behaviour which has no place in London and we are determined to deal with this robustly”. » | Jamie Bullen; Robert Mendrick, Chief Reporter and Michael Murphy | Sunday, November 5, 2023

Pro-Palestine March in London: Police Make Terror Arrest at Piccadilly Circus

Nove 4, 2023 | Police have made their first arrests at a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday with one held under the Terrorism Act over a placard that could incite hatred.

Scotland Yard said it had made three arrests at Piccadilly Circus, where a sit-in protest was staged following previous demonstrations in Oxford Circus and outside Broadcasting House.

One was held after they were seen allegedly displaying a placard that could incite hated, while two others were arrested for public order offences. Tens of thousands of people have marched on Trafalgar Square in the latest of a series of large-scale demonstrations in the capital to demand an end to the bombardment of Gaza.

The Metropolitan Police has said there will be a “sharper focus” on using social media and face-recognition to detect criminal behaviour at protests this weekend. Police spotters will be out in force, filming the crowds for any activity that might be in breach of public order and terror laws.

‘Enormous Mistake’: Douglas Murray’s Warning over Planned Pro-Palestine Protest in London

Nov 3, 2023 | Author Douglas Murray says a pro-Palestine march on Remembrance Day in the United Kingdom would be a “deliberate provocation” of the British people and should not be allowed to go ahead.

Thousands of demonstrators are planning to take to the streets of London on November 11 to call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Mr Murray warned it would be a “great overreach” by Islamists and an “enormous mistake”. “Either doesn't go ahead or it goes ahead and it will have to be countered because I don't think the British public should have to put up with this,” he told Sky News host Rita Panahi. “We should not have to put up with our national monuments being defiled, we should not have to put up with the Cenotaph being defiled.”


Hear! Hear! For many, Islamophobia is a rational fear because it is only Muslims who behead others and put gays to death simply for loving another of the same gender. So, wouldn't you have a fear of people who practise a faith that encourages behaviour redolent of the Stone Age? – © Mark Alexander

Pro-Palestinian Rallies in the UK, Europe Call for Peace in Gaza

Oct 28, 2023 | Tens of thousands of people have joined pro-Palestinian rallies in the UK and Europe, as Israel expands its response to the deadly Hamas attack of 7 October. They come after a majority of nations voted on Friday for a United Nations resolution calling for a ''sustained humanitarian truce'' in Gaza.

Auch in Kreuzberg, Deutschland.

Thousands Gather in London for Protests and Vigils as the Israel-Hamas War Enters Third Day

Oct 10, 2023 | Thousands of people gathered across London on Monday to participate in vigils held for Israel in Westminster and pro-Palestine solidarity protests near Israel's embassy in west London. The gatherings took place as the war in Gaza passed its third day, with a heavy toll for civilians on both sides. At least 704 Palestinians have died in Gaza and more than 900 Israelis

Brexit Called ‘A Huge Mistake’ by Protesters at Rally in London

THE OBSERVER: National Rejoin March culminated in demonstration in Parliament Square calling for the UK to rejoin the EU

A protester in Parliament Square in central London on Saturday. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Protesters against the UK’s exit from the EU have labelled the move “a huge mistake” as they campaigned to rejoin the bloc.

A large crowd of pro-EU protesters gathered outside the Hilton hotel on Park Lane in central London for the National Rejoin March (NRM) on Saturday.

Hundreds of people dressed in blue clothes and carrying EU flags filled the pavement before the march through the city’s streets, which was expected to culminate with a rally in Parliament Square.

Clusters of Metropolitan police officers were at the scene as protesters handed out flyers and passing cars hooted their horns in support. » | PA Media | Saturday, September 23, 2023

What Living in London Was Like during the Blitz | Cities At War: London | Timeline

Aug 10, 2017 | This programme includes an award-winning trilogy whose theme is the miraculous resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

You can sign up to this History Hit documentary service, at a huge discount by using the code 'TIMELINE' here.

‘It Feels Amazing’: Revellers Young and Old Celebrate Pride in London

THE GUARDIAN: The parade, celebrating its 50th anniversary, is led by the Gay Liberation Front, which organised the first UK protest in 1972

Noah Colton, 18, in his drag persona Eva More. Photograph: Amy Walker
Clad in seven-inch metallic silver stilettos, a shimmery gold bodycon dress, flame-shaped glasses and a multi-tonal weave as his drag persona Eva More, 18-year-old Noah Colton was ready to party as tens of thousands of people marched – and danced – through the capital for Pride in London, the UK’s biggest LGBTQ+ parade.

“I’m trying to focus on enjoying it, and seeing it as a coming together of the community where you can be who you want to be,” he said.

After following the parade for a few hours, the plan for his first Pride was to head to Trafalgar Square for live music and on to a drag night in Clapham, south London. “I have got more comfortable shoes in my bag,” he admitted.

With the parade led by the Gay Liberation Front, which organised the first UK protest in 1972, the event was celebrating its 50th anniversary – it was also the first Pride for two years after a Covid-forced hiatus. » | Amy Walker | Saturday, July 2, 2022

PRIDE in Pictures.

Met Says Its Officers Will Not March in Uniform at London Pride Event

THE GUARDIAN: Move comes after Peter Tatchell and other LGBTQ+ campaigners raise concerns about homophobia

The Metropolitan police have said its officers will not march in uniform at Pride in London after LGBTQ+ campaigners voiced concern about “institutional homophobia” within the force.

Scotland Yard said on Friday that officers who wish to join the celebrations should do so in civilian clothes rather than police uniform after listening to the “legitimate concerns” of activists.

Uniformed officers will still police the annual parade, which celebrates its 50th anniversary on Saturday with performances by the American singer-songwriter Ava Max and the British star Emeli Sandé.

The decision comes after the human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell raised concern about the Met’s “homophobic” handling of the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port. Tatchell said the case showed that “institutional homophobia is alive and kicking in the Metropolitan police” and that it would not be right for uniformed officers to march in the parade.

The official organisers of Pride in London later said the police uniform “undermines” the balance between listening to the concerns of members and being as welcoming as possible. » | Josh Halliday and David Batty | Friday, July 1, 2022

Thousands March in London over Cost of Living Crisis

THE GUARDIAN: Demonstration organised by TUC calls on government to make ‘better deal’ for people struggling to cope with soaring inflation

Demonstrators marching in central London on Saturday. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Thousands of people have gathered in London to protest against the government’s lack of action in tackling the cost of living crisis.

Protesters marched from Portland Place to Parliament Square for a rally with speakers including Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, which organised the event.

O’Grady was met with applause and cheers as she gave a speech to the crowd.

Demonstrators carried banners reading “cut war not welfare” and “end fuel poverty, insulate homes now”. » | Anna MacSwan and Tom Ambrose | Saturday, June 18, 2022

Londongrad: Hauptstadt der Geldwäscherei | Globale Themen erklärt | #SRFglobal

Jun 3, 2022 • Welcome to Londongrad: Spielplatz von Oligarchen, Gangstern, Spionen und mitunter Attentätern: Wie London seit Jahren immer stärker in die Fänge der reichen russischen Exilgemeinde gerät.

In Grossbritannien herrschen optimale Bedingungen, um illegal erwirtschaftetes Geld zu waschen. Das macht London seit Jahren zu einem Magnet für Russen, die vor allem durch Privatisierungen in der Heimat zu enormem Reichtum gekommen sind. Nicht umsonst trägt die Metropole den Spitznamen Londongrad. Umgerechnet etwa 125 Milliarden Franken sollen jedes Jahr in Grossbritannien gewaschen werden. Dieses Geld wird in London in Immobilien, Banken, Fussballclubs und renommierte Bildungseinrichtungen gesteckt.

#SRFglobal zeigt auf, wieso gerade London zum Geldwaschsalon der Welt wurde und wie die britische Regierung damit umgeht.

Moderatorin Wasiliki Goutziomitros bespricht diese und weitere Fragen mit Tom Keatinge, dem Direktor des Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies in London, Elisabeth Schimpfössl, Autorin des Buches «Rich Russians», Mark Pieth, Korruptionsexperte und SRF-Korrespondent in London, Michael Gerber.

Erstausstrahlung auf SRF 1 am 2.6.2022

Why Oligarchs Choose London for Their Dirty Money | The Economist

May 12, 2022 • Britain is one of the best places in the world to launder dirty money. Our new film tells you why—and asks whether that's likely to change.

How London Became the Dirty Money Capital of the World | FT Film

Apr 22, 2022 • Russian oligarchs and companies have been investing in London for two decades, encouraged by British politicians of all stripes, but critics say the 'London laundromat' cleans dirty money from Russia and across the globe. The FT examines why it took Russia's invasion of Ukraine to put the issue in the spotlight and whether new sanctions and measures to tackle the problem go far enough

Londongrad: How the UK Became a Laundromat for Russian Oligarchs’ Dirty Money

Apr 6, 2022 • For years, the UK has welcomed oligarchs with few questions asked about their fortunes. Billions of dollars poured in. Now, British intelligence is warning that Russian money is propping up Putin’s regime -- and that some of it is helping fund the war in Ukraine.

Tens of Thousands Gather in London to Show Solidarity with Ukraine

THE GUARDIAN: Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says people of British capital stand ‘shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its darkest hour’

Demonstrators wave Ukrainian national flags during the ‘London stands with Ukraine’ protest march. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty
Tens of thousands of people have gathered in central London to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine, with the consensus among the vast crowd being that the embattled country would prevail in the war against Russia.

After the rallying call by Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, for people everywhere to protest against the bloodshed by taking to the streets, Trafalgar Square was transformed into a sea of yellow and blue.

The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, who organised the march, said Ukraine had endured “unimaginable pain and suffering” over the past month. Khan, who acted after Zelenskiy’s call for global support, said London stood “shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its darkest hour”.

On their route through London, demonstrators marched beneath Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace message on a huge electronic billboard in Piccadilly, many waving the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag as they passed. » | Mark Townsend, Home affairs editor | Saturday, March 26, 2022