London: Tower Hamlets faith communities stop UKIP again

More than 150 members of faith communities and organisations have today, 30 January, issued a press statement denouncing a planned march by the far-right anti-Muslim UK Independence Party. The following is the full text of the statement:

Once again, the borough of Tower Hamlets was being threatened by racist outsiders. The discredited rump of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) party have been planning to march through Whitechapel on 31st January. They tried to do the same on 25th October 2025, but were stopped by thousands of local people who attended the Tower Hamlets Unity Demo, supported by 60 organisations, as well as the elected Mayor, Lutfur Rahman.

This time, UKIP announced to come to one of the most culturally-diverse communities in the country and “Walk with Jesus” parade. On this occasion, UKIP tried to use Christianity as a false flag for sowing division. In response, many churches have joined the United East End coalition, representing all faiths and none, to say UKIP are not welcome here. Thankfully, the Met Police have now blocked the UKIP march from taking place in Tower Hamlets as it could lead to “serious disorder”.

We warmly welcome this and it is a recognition of our community’s determination to stand together and insist that Tower Hamlets is No Place for Hate. From the Battle of Cable Street 90 years ago, to the defeat of the racist groups such as the National Front, British National Party and English Defence League, we will always oppose racism and prejudice.

We reiterate, UKIP has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity and is an insult to people, including many residents of east London, who genuinely follow the Christian faith. What UKIP really wants to do is sow hatred and fear by targeting the Muslim community and migrants.

The Tower Hamlets Unity Demo and the Victory Parade last October was publicly supported by Christian leaders from the borough, alongside other members of the Inter-Faith Forum. One of the co-founders of United East End, formed in 2010 to oppose the racist-EDL, was the Reverend Alan Green.

Recent research found that 91 per cent of Tower Hamlets residents think people from different backgrounds get along well together. We are not an “island of strangers” as the Prime Minister has said, and we don’t need Nick Tenconi of UKIP or Nigel Farage of Reform UK telling us how we should live, pray, or who our neighbours should be.

This year is the 90^th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street. Ever since, the people of the East End have stood shoulder-to-shoulder against those who seek to divide us.

United East End
www.unitedeastend.org.uk

Signotaries