UKIP to march in Whitechapel – they will regret it

NOTE: This article was published on 29 May 2025The latest list of UKIP demonstrations demanding ‘mass deportations now’ contains few surprises. Most are city centre events which will be healthily outnumbered by anti-fascists in town and cities with proud anti-fascist traditions. Except one. Deliberate provocation In London on 25 October UKIP plans to rally in…

NOTE: This article was published on 29 May 2025
UKIP announces Summer of provocative marches

The latest list of UKIP demonstrations demanding ‘mass deportations now’ contains few surprises. Most are city centre events which will be healthily outnumbered by anti-fascists in town and cities with proud anti-fascist traditions. Except one.

Deliberate provocation

In London on 25 October UKIP plans to rally in Whitechapel, in East London. UKIP leader Nick Tenconi intends to rally his goons in one of the most Muslim areas of London, just minutes away from the East London Mosque to which they will certainly try to march.

This is a deliberate and spiteful provocation.

We all know what Tenconi is up to. He hopes to provoke a reaction from London’s Muslim community which he can then represent as an attack on British patriotism and free speech.

He hopes to provoke a reaction from London’s Muslim community which he can then represent as an attack on British patriotism and free speech

It’s only comparatively lately that Tenconi has begun targeting Islam by name. There are rumours in and around UKIP that this is because till recently he was dating a Muslim girl. However, it is being said that she has now dumped him, thus freeing him to indulge the kind of provocative Islamophobia which might endear him to ‘Tommy Robinson’, recently freed from jail.

Before he was locked up Robinson spoke of a link-up with UKIP but while he has been away some of his key followers seem to have cooled on the idea, after witnessing Tenconi’s poorly-supported, clownish antics on the streets.

Potentially lucrative alliance

Tenconi and UKIP Chairman Ben Walker will be looking to rejuvenate this potentially lucrative alliance, and the planned march in Whitechapel is plainly designed to impress Robinson.

Tenconi is no Oswald Mosely, far from it, but he might take note that the scene he has chosen for his provocation is only a short distance from Cable St where Mosley had his cumuppance in 1936.

Tenconi and his gaggle of geriatric thugs may rue the day they decided to march here.

No pasaran!


Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Top ten most read