Tommy Robinson to hold Unite the Kingdom ‘Christmas service’ amid protests – live

The Metropolitan Police said there would be an increased police presence in central London on Saturday.

Supporters of Tommy Robinson are gathering for a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ event, while a counter-protest organized by Stand Up to Racism is taking place amid several other demonstrations.

“There will be an increased police presence in central London tomorrow with a number of protests planned in the wake of an already very busy day in the run-up to Christmas,” the Met said in a statement on Friday.

A senior Church of England bishop has hit out and criticized bogus claims that “Christmas has been cancelled” Wanting to politicize Christianity Before the carols event organized by anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has urged supporters of his Unite the Kingdom movement to “bring Christ back into Christmas” with an outdoor event in Whitehall this Saturday.

In a significant intervention, the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend David Walker, has said it is “outrageous” that people are “appropriating this great Christian festival of the triumph of light over darkness as a prop in a dull culture war”.

writing for Independent, Dr Walker said: “Every year we see a strange tradition: the familiar claim that somewhere, someone is trying to ‘ban’ Christmas.”

The bishops of the Diocese of Southwark have said they are “gravely concerned” about the use of Christian symbols to “justify racism and anti-migrant rhetoric” ahead of a planned Tommy Robinson carol service in central London.

In a statement, he said Jesus Christ has always been at the center of Christmas, adding: “And those who lay claim to him need to be serious about what they want.

“The authenticity of a person’s faith can be judged by his actions.”

He said that at the core of the Christian faith is the belief that God created all people and that He loves all.

The statement continued: “It is unacceptable to appropriate or corrupt Christianity in any way to exclude others, and we are deeply concerned about the use of Christian symbols and rhetoric to blatantly justify racism and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“We understand that there are many people who may be involved in these types of movements who may not necessarily buy into the bulk of what is being said.

“We would encourage them to think again, to consider what kind of world they want to be a part of – and choose compassion and understanding rather than hostility and conflict.”

He added: “We are proud of our nation and our communities – and we know we are better than this.”

Tommy Robinson is holding a ‘Unite the Kingdom’ event described as a Christmas carol service in Whitehall.

The “Putting Christ Back into Christmas” service takes place outside Downing Street from 2pm, with music and readings from 3pm.

Organizers say it will be a peaceful and festive gathering and not a political protest, which will include live music and opera singers.