Unite the Kingdom (UTK) Protest Saturday 16th May 2026
Unite the Kingdom, led by Stephen Yaxley Lennon, aka ‘Tommy Robinson’, is planning their next protest in London on 16th May. The previous protest in September 2025 was attended by some 150 – 200,000 people, and achieved substantial publicity. It was notable for its apparently strong ‘Christian’ voice. Seeking to serve and unite the church in our town, Churches Together in Luton (CTL) therefore consider it important to address this protest’s potential impact as we go forward, both in our unity as churches and the message being heard outside the church.
Assessing the impact of the September protest CTL expressed concern at UTK’s strong Christian Nationalist message. (here) We have since worked to respond to its challenge with teaching on embracing difference and diversity, both within the church and towards people of other faiths.
UTK held a carol service in Whitehall in mid December. Their intent was to “put Christ back in Christmas.” The event was much more sparsely attended (+/-1500), but the Christian focus of the event allowed them to strongly develop the Christian narrative of the movement. A review of the Christmas event, the questions it raises as to UTK and its founders adoption of a particular style of Christianity, and how we might respond is found here: If the far right have parked their tanks on our front lawn, we need to get out and start the conversation!
The protest on 16th May is expected to be substantially larger; the police have allocated Parliament Square and Whitehall to UTK, and the footprint in central London will be much larger. The protest will again seek to have a strong Christian voice. The official anthem (see below) has strong Christian lyrics, and will be likely be performed as part of a worship set by the choir of the church Yaxley Lennon is affiliated with in Tottenham. Crosses and other Christian symbols are being encouraged, and UTK’s own brand of “premium Christian clothing” being promoted.
A look at the song indicates what the UTK event stands for. Familiar in its musical style to many from evangelical charismatic and Pentecostal churches, its lyrics in the main will barely raise eyebrows. One line of the reprise however gives away an idea that we put aside the positivity and ‘faith’ stirred by the words preceding it, and listen carefully: “The United Kingdom is God’s kingdom. He is always on our side.” This proclamation in song is the heart of Christian nationalism. And as with all good songs, the lyrics quickly sing along in our minds. We must challenge and reject this idea most strongly.
Recent major UTK protests mean we can expect this same nationalist message to be the heart of the speeches, along with anti-Muslim and anti-immigration themes, of a nation being invaded, and Christianity under threat. They will call Christians to rise up to oppose the threat. Indeed an advert for the “premium Christian clothing” brand on a
promo video for the event tells us: ‘Christianity is founded in strength: strength in body … mind … and spirit. This is what [brandname] seeks to restore in the west …”
While the organisers are seeking to discourage violence, many followers who still look for that, and it will be doubtless provoked by some opponents to the event. Our concern, though, is that this brand of Christian faith holds up a wrong understanding of Christian lifestyle and God’s intent for the nation.
The position of the church to what is likely to be a growing challenge must we suggest be a carefully nuanced one. As the mainstream churches we must hear the concerns of our sisters and brothers inclined to attend the UTK protest, and respond in loving respectful dialogue. But we must equally challenge the intolerance and rejection of difference, of “the other.”
As we did in September, we will be reviewing this protest and its impact, and will be considering our next steps. Above all our desire is not to be reacting to that which we oppose, but to stand together in our diversity as a church in expressing the hope that we have as Christians is for all people. God is on no person’s side. And we have a duty to live and share the hope we have in Jesus, reaching out in love, acceptance and comfort to all. We welcome your involvement.
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‘This is God’s Kingdom’ : the anthem for the May 2026 Unite the Kingdom protest
https://x.com/TRobinsonNewEra/status/2046968525294576005/video/1?s=61
This is God’s Kingdom This is our song
Lift your voice Britain Sing and stand strong
From the valleys to the coast From the cities to the fields
This nation is our gift from God In his promise we are sealed
When the storm clouds gather dark And the thunder shakes our ground
We remember who is for us We remember what we’ve found.
With the word in our mouth Hearts beating as one
We will not be shaken We’ve already won.
The United Kingdom is God’s kingdom He is always on our side
No matter what they throw against us We are covered we will rise
Together we stand No division in us
Every voice, every tribe, every tongue Together we shall overcome, we shall overcome We shall overcome in love and strength and unity.
Yeah, we will stand on mountaintops Sing it out with all our hearts
In the fire, in the flood, we are anchored in his love We will stand on mountaintops
Sing it out with all our hearts In his grace, every nation, every race.
The United Kingdom is God’s kingdom He is always on our side
No matter what they throw against us We are covered we will rise
Together we stand No division in us
Every voice, every tribe, every tongue Together we shall overcome, we shall overcome We shall overcome in love and strength and unity.
Together we stand, hearts and hands
God’s kingdom in this land
Forever free
