Nigel Farage has said a pro-Palestine march, due to take place on Armistice Day just before Remembrance Sunday should be stopped by police.
Mr Farage’s comments come after an activist group called for a million people to march in London to protest against the Israel-Hamas war.
He said the UK should follow the example of German police and crack down on protesters.
In a statement, the GB News presenter wrote: “I find it pretty extraordinary that there is a big pro-Palestine March, in fact, demands from some for a million-strong march, to come through the centre of London on the November 11.
“I’ve said before, to great criticism, that I’ve worried in the past about a lot of people coming into Britain with whom we have no shared history and no shared culture, and this, I think, is a very good example of that.
“Should this march go ahead? And especially should it be allowed to go down Whitehall, past the Cenotaph? I think the answer just has to be ‘no’ – I think this march has to be blocked.”
Mr Farage tried to justify his remarks by saying there were other marches in cities away from London, but that the one in the capital should be stopped.
He said: “It’s not as if there’s a shortage of pro-Palestine marches. They’re taking place all the time and not just in London, but in many other cities as well.
“So I think this March should be blocked. “Mayor [Sadiq] Khan has said precious little about it. It’s interesting to see that in Germany, they really are taking a very different approach.
“I was astonished to see the vice chancellor, Robert Habeck, who is a Green, saying that what was happening on the streets of Berlin was unacceptable and that there would be tough consequences.”
“Four thousand people so far have been arrested on the streets of Germany. I think for historical, for cultural, for national reasons, we should not allow a march past the Cenotaph on Armistice Day, and I feel actually very, very strongly about that.”
Following reports of the million-man march, the Metropolitan Police released a statement. They said: “Officers will be deployed across London on 11 and 12 November as part of a significant policing and security operation. We’re absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of anyone attending commemorative events.
“We know that this year, there are concerns about a demonstration by pro-Palestinian campaigners. The protest organisers have not indicated any plans to protest on Remembrance Sunday.
“They do not intend to hold a significant demonstration on the Saturday but they are engaging with our officers and have said they are willing to avoid the Whitehall area, recognising the sensitivities around the date.
“This is a weekend with huge national significance. We will use all the powers available to us to ensure anyone intent on disrupting it will not proceed.”
