Anti-racists mobilise nationwide as campaign against Reform intensifies
There is just over a week to go until elections across Britain on 7 May & under 3 weeks until fascist Tommy Robinson leads the next ‘Unite the Kingdoms’ demo in London, an event that will be opposed by a unity protest organised by the Palestine coalition (to commemorate the Nakba) and Stand Up To Racism.
Reform UK think that they can breakthrough on 7 May. Their racist and divisive policies mask their attempts to cozy up to the rich – as do their long list of ex Tory grandees.
Stand Up To Racism has been out on the campaign trail against Reform – and also building for 16 May, putting on transport, leafleting and postering to build the biggest possible opposition to the far right on the day.
These are going to be critical weeks. If we can help to mobilise the vote against Reform UK, and mobilise with the Palestine movement on as big or even a bigger scale than Robinson we can give every antiracist more confidence to organise.
Counter protests
Bournemouth
(Roundhouse): About 20 on either side at the Roundhouse in Bournemouth
Poole
In the end 75 anti-racists opposing 60 far right In Poole. FR brought support in from Portsmouth, Plymouth & all point between.
Leeds
300 anti fascists drowned out 50 UKIP today. Constant chanting made it difficult for them to hear Nazi Nick Tenconis hate speech. Despite not being able to march spirits were high and people celebrated a rich culture of anti fascism in Leeds. Imogen, a student who had helped organised at the uni said “The far right want to attack migrants, they attack people of colour, they attack women, they attack Muslims, they attack the LGBTQ+ community. What we need is unity, to stand together to fight against fascism, fight against racism, fight against sexism.”
A Leeds NEU member spoke about his unions commitment to campaigning against racism. Kevin from Love Music Hate Racism talked about how Leeds has a proud history of Rock Against Racism helping to smash the nazi NF in the 1970s and that we need to build a similar movement today – using the power of anti-racist and anti-fascist music to defeat Farage and Robinson. If you are a band then get involved building LMHR in Leeds!’, .
There were speeches promoting the demo against Tommy Robinson on 16th May and getting involved in Women Against the Far Right. A representative from the Trades Council talked about how important next weeks May Day march is, a collaboration with Leeds SUTR to show unity against hate and the far right. Leeds showed again today that racist and fascist groups are not welcome.
Oxford
First around 25 of us opposed Oxford Patriots’ small racist demonstration. Then we had a great public response building the campaigns against racist party ReformUK.
Plymouth
Plymouth SUTR countered fascist Flag Force Plymouth with 30 or so of us to 12 of them. Fourth week in a row we have outnumbered them. One of them was arrested for assaulting an anti-fascist protesters.
Nottingham
Outnumbering the far right flag boy’s in Nottingham today. About 50 of them, over 100 of us.
Newcastle
There were the usual protesters outside the New Bridge Hotel. There was about 20 of them and 30 counter protested. Our numbers added to by some Newcastle students.
Maidstone
Around 60 fascists marched round the centre of Maidstone significantly outnumbering 25 anti-fascist. This was the first proper fascist demonstration in Kent this year, but they are likely to organise more after this success
Stopping Reform on May 7
There were 7 of us out in Perth today. As I walked past the Reform UK stall Helen McDade their candidate shouts to me “You stopped racism yet?”…. 😜 Very satisfying to whip put these leaflets and tell her “We are trying Helen, we are trying”. We had a fantastic response to the leaflets with no negative comments.
About a 1000 leaflets delivered by a group of 9 in North Staffordshire today. We are targeting the ward where notorious racist former Tory MP Jonathan Gullis is now standing to be a councillor for Reform
Good to join Swindon Sutr .. gave out lots of leaflets , I felt good response . Did have an exchange of ideas with someone pulled by the far right but overwhelmingly positive .
Very successful 2 hours leafletting in sunny Manor Ward, Trafford today – 10 of us. Overall people were glad we were there – some people thanking us.
Sherebourne ward 8 of us got out many more leaflets across Sherborne Ward with another positive interaction of someone coming out of their house afterwards to say well in and thank you for doing it! Other positives included someone telling us how they put all the Reform stuff they’ve had right in the recycling.
Next session we will switch ward and keep leafletting in the build up to the elections!
Sutton (High Street): Sutton SUTR on the high street today.
Dalston (Hackney): Dalston today! Handed out a lot of leaflets- very friendly. No Reform In Hackney!
Bootle (Merseyside): Merseyside Stand Up To Racism and Women Against the Far Right were out campaigning against Reform UK in Bootle today. We were joined by activists from the PCS union. 16 people took part in a very successful leafletting session. The overwhelming response was very encouraging, with many people saying how glad they were that we were there.
Bexleyheath / Crayford: SUTR joined Comrades from the NEU for an excellent anti reform leafletting session in Bexleyheath today with another group heading off to go door to door in Crawford
Merthyr Tydfil: Fantastic action today, with a stall and leafleting action in Merthyr. Some great responses and conversations and Phil convinced a potential Reform voter to not vote Reform.
Hull: Today’s sunny leafletting in Hull
Chepstow: Forest of Dean SUTR were out on the streets in Chepstow. A very positive experience with very little opposition but much positivity.
Barnsley: Great day leafleting in Barnsley Central today against Reform. There were 22 of us out in sunny weather.
Monmouth: Forest of Dean SUTR in Monmouth today. Well received as we were yesterday in Chepstow.
Chesterfield (Staveley North): 12 of us out in Chesterfield. Leaflets through every door in the Staveley North ward where there is a double by election.
East Barnet: 1500 leaflets either delivered or collected today in East Barnet.
Widnes: Another estate leafleted in Widnes! Great teamwork.
Harlow: Good leafleting session in Harlow today with some new faces
Hainault: 5 of us out today, gradually covering Hainault ward.
Greater Manchester: Stand up to Racism campaigners were out in force across Greater Manchester leafleting key wards over six areas.
Mumbles (Swansea): Swansea sutr flash mob met with a very positive reaction in Mumbles this afternoon!
Big turn out in Swansea today!
15 out in Cwmbran yesterday delivered over 1000 leaflets. In the gardens the picture is taken in we met a local gardening group made up of Plaid and Green Party members. We got their contact and have sent the leaflet pdf for them to print and give out with their leaflets when their campaigning as well ✊🏾
What an absolutely fantastic evening. 8 of us leafleted the Graig and Maes-y-Coed in Pontypridd and talked to people. Highlight was the lady at the end that opened the window to tell us that she is absolutely not voting Reform. Thank you everyone.
Unity Marches
SUTR’s first Unity March & Rally in Livingston saw 70 anti-racists take to the streets today to oppose the far-right scapegoating of refugees and migrants! No to Reform’s racism, aye to refugees!
Crowborough
Fantastic to see over fifty out showing unity in the face of the far right in Crowborough today.
Ayrshire
On our first anti-racism rally in Ayrshire we pulled in 100 people!! With great political speeches and strong turnout.
With great political speeches from Claire Leitch, East Ayrshire Provost, Women Against the Far-Right, Falkirk For All and many others. The sun was shining, the music was blaring and anti-racism everywhere you turned!
Despite having a fantastic first event, the threat of Reform UK still looms with just under 2 weeks until the Scottish elections so we need to make the most of the little time we have so I propose a day of action before 7th May. Let’s get on the streets with the anti Reform leaflets and make sure the people of Ayrshire know the truth about Reform UK!
Today was the start of something great in Ayrshire!
Old Kent Rd
Southwark SUTR participated in the Save Old Kent Rd demonstration. Housing and community activists came together to defend council housing in the area and resist overplanning and loss of cultural spaces.
Epsom
Around 60/70 people held a sit down protest and vigil following the right wing rampage in the area. There was a good diverse mix of participants including families and children. It was led by women. We got a good number of sign ups for Epsom SUTR. WAFR fliers well received.
Monitoring Group report
Anti-racists mobilise nationwide as campaign against Reform intensifies
Anti-racists across Britain stepped up activity over the weekend of 24–26 April, combining mass leafleting with counter-protests to push back the far right.
More than thirty towns and cities saw activity, with campaigners targeting key electoral battlegrounds while confronting fascist and far-right mobilisations where they appeared.
In Poole, 75 anti-racists outnumbered around 60 far-right supporters, drowning them out and demonstrating the ability to rapidly mobilise regionally. In Leeds, around 300 anti-fascists overwhelmed a 50-strong far-right presence, using constant chanting to shut down speeches and control the space.
Nottingham saw a similar picture, with over 100 anti-racists outnumbering roughly 25 far-right activists in Market Square. In Plymouth, anti-fascists again held the initiative, outnumbering their opponents for the fourth consecutive week.
Even where numbers were tighter—such as Bournemouth’s Roundhouse—counter-protests ensured the far right could not operate unchallenged.
Where anti-racists mobilise, the far right struggles to gain ground.
Mass leafleting targets Reform UK
A coordinated wave of leafleting took place across England and Wales, focused on undermining support for Reform UK ahead of upcoming elections.
Activists distributed thousands of leaflets, often reporting positive responses. In several areas, people actively requested materials or volunteered to help.
In East Barnet alone, 1,500 leaflets were delivered or collected in a single day. In Bootle, activists reported strong engagement, with people taking bundles for workplaces and streets. Across Greater Manchester, coordinated activity covered multiple wards simultaneously.
Even in areas identified as Reform targets, the response suggests the party’s support is shallow and contested. Conversations on the doorstep and in high streets repeatedly showed hostility to racism and openness to anti-racist arguments.
Unity rallies
Several areas saw the emergence of broader unity mobilisations.
In Crowborough, over 50 people gathered in a show of collective resistance after months of far-right pressure. Swansea and Ayrshire also saw significant turnouts, with the latter drawing around 100 people to a first anti-racist rally.
Smaller initiatives, such as flash mobs in Mumbles, show a growing confidence in visible forms of protest.
But there are also warnings. In places like Maidstone, the far right has been able to mobilise significant numbers. And Reform UK continues to target local elections with a coordinated strategy.