Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that Britain will "never surrender" the flag to "those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division" after the Metropolitan Police said dozens of its officers were injured at the Unite the Kingdom rally.

The Prime Minister acknowledged "people have a right to peaceful protest", adding it was "core to our country's values".

However, he added Britain "will not stand for assaults on police officers doing their job or for people feeling intimidated on our streets because of their background or the colour of their skin".

It comes after up to 150,000 people packed central London for the Unite the Kingdom rally, organised by activist Tommy Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

The Met confirmed 26 officers were injured, including some with broken teeth, while 25 arrests had been made as a result of "disorder [and] violence" directed at the police.