“Pathetic turnout”: anti-immigration protesters outnumbered by opposition in Newcastle
Written by Amelia Anderson on 1st October 2025
A Tyneside school secretary who joined last weekend’s protests in Newcastle has spoken of her pride in the region for standing up to the Far Right.
Helen Barnes said: “I was really proud of Newcastle that day because we showed them (anti-immigration protesters) that we won’t tolerate racism.”
The scene at the weekend’s protests, as captured by Miss Barnes.
Miss Barnes, 57, from Newcastle, estimated there were only 100-200 people within the anti-immigration protest, in what she called a “pathetic turnout”.
In anticipation of the launch of new far-right political party Advance UK, anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the Law Courts on the Quayside with UKIP and St George’s flags.
As the anti-immigration protesters were marching towards Monument they were met by a group of counter-protesters on the Side on the Quayside.
Miss Barnes saw this unfold and said a kettle (kettling is a police tactic for controlling large crowds during demonstrations or protests where the police make a line between both sides) was formed.
“My heart was racing a bit when suddenly, the police formed a kettle,” she said. “They were blocking off two ends and we managed to get out of it before we got trapped in the kettle.”
During the counter-protest Miss Barnes said that there were anti-police chants, but she was grateful the police were there to prevent any violence.
Two women and a man were arrested during the protest on suspicion of breaching the peace but later released without charge, Northumbria Police said, but it is unclear which side they were from.
Miss Barnes said: “We weren’t there to cause violence, we were just there for a peaceful protest and to make our beliefs and thoughts known.”
The anti-immigration protesters and the counter-protesters were redirected and gathered outside the city library with a police line in between.
The counter-protesters were made up of groups including Stand Up To Racism, Anti-Fascist League, and Unite Against Racism.
Advance UK, led by Ben Habib, was scheduled to launch at council-owned Crowne Plaza on the Quayside, but their booking was cancelled by hotel management on “health and safety grounds”, according to Newcastle Council.
The new party, backed by far-right activist Tommy Robinson and billionaire Elon Musk, claims it wants to “mend broken Britain” and Mr Habib posted on X that the launch of his party went ahead and called it “fantastic” and “completely packed out”.
The Socialist Worker reported that the event was held at Aveika bar and restaurant on the Quayside. We have reached out to Aveika for comment.
