11/09/2026
TAMWORTH BRACES FOR SATURDAY, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROTESTS AND COUNTER PROTESTSâŚ
Saturday 12 September is going to be a very different day in Tamworth town centre.
Britain First is bringing its âMarch for Remigrationâ to Tamworth, with supporters being told to assemble at Tamworth Railway Station from 12 noon before taking part in a procession through the town.
And it wonât be the only demonstration taking place.
There will also be opposition on the streets, with a Women Against the Far Right Birmingham & Black Country counter protest advertised at the bandstand in Tamworth Castle Grounds from 11am.
So, what exactly is happening, where are people expected to be, and what can residents expect?
đŹđ§ THE BRITAIN FIRST MARCH
Britain First has been openly promoting its Tamworth event for several weeks. The organisation describes it as a âMarch for Remigrationâ.
Britain First says its plans have been discussed with Staffordshire Police and that the route and rally location have been agreed.
The organisation has encouraged its supporters to bring friends and family and has described the event as a family demonstration, saying that children and dogs are welcome.
This is one aspect of Saturdayâs protest that we have a real problem with.
As many will remember, on 4 August 2024, Tamworth witnessed what started as a protest outside the Holiday Inn turn into serious disorder and a riot. The resulting damage was estimated at around ÂŁ100,000.
But for us, the biggest concern wasnât just the financial cost. Children were present while this was happening. They were exposed to scenes that no child should have to witness.
Which is why we are particularly concerned that organisers of Saturdayâs protest are encouraging people to âbring all the family along.â
Of course, nobody knows what Saturday will bring, and we sincerely hope it remains peaceful. But if there is even a possibility of a protest descending into the kind of disorder Tamworth witnessed in 2024, parents need to think very carefully about whether bringing children into that environment is appropriate.
Children should not be exposed to violence, intimidation, hatred or political confrontation.
There is a difference between taking an older child to a peaceful demonstration to learn about democracy and deliberately taking children into an environment where tensions could potentially boil over.
If Saturday turns ugly, it wonât be the adults who made that decision who have to carry those memories it will be the children who were taken there. Whatever side of the political divide you stand on, children should come before politics.
Letâs hope Saturday remains peaceful and that no child or adult has to witness a repeat of what happened in Tamworth in 2024.
The planned procession is expected to leave the station and travel through the town centre, eventually heading towards St Edithaâs Square. The route identified by police includes Victoria Road, Heath Street, Alexandra Mews, Albion Street, Marmion Street and the pedestrianised section of Bolebridge Street.
đ¨ POLICE ARE EXPECTING A SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONâŚ
Staffordshire Police have confirmed that this is a pre planned protest and that officers will be deployed proactively throughout the town. They have been working with Tamworth Borough Council, partner agencies, protest organisers and members of the local community.
Their stated priority is public safety, while balancing the right to peaceful protest against the rights of residents, businesses and other people affected by the event.
And there will be restrictions.
Church Street, between Corporation Street and St Edithaâs Square, together with St Edithaâs Close, will be closed to vehicles from 6am until 4pm.
Further temporary closures are expected on Victoria Road, Heath Street, Alexandra Mews, Albion Street, Marmion Street and the pedestrianised section of Bolebridge Street between approximately 1pm and 2pm, with police saying they will try to keep these closures in place only for as long as necessary for the procession to pass.
In other words, if youâre planning to drive through the town centre on Saturday, expect disruption and allow extra time.
â THE COUNTER-PROTEST
Those attending the Britain First march wonât be the only people making their voices heard.
Women Against the Far Right Birmingham & Black Country have advertised a counter protest at the Tamworth Castle Grounds bandstand from 11am.
The groupâs message is clear, âTamworth says no to fascist Britain First.â
The bandstand provides a separate location from the Britain First gathering at the railway station, and the intention appears to be to provide a visible opposing demonstration rather than simply have people attempt to join the main march.
â ď¸ BUT WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A MESSAGE ABOUT ANOTHER COUNTER PROTESTâŚ
This is something we think residents need to be aware of but we want to be very clear that we have not independently verified it.
TPSOT has received a message claiming that there will also be a group at Tamworth Railway Station intending to prevent people from leaving the station and joining the Britain First demonstration.
We have not been able to independently confirm this claim, and we are therefore not presenting it as established fact. However, given the location of the main gathering, we believe it is something worth putting on residentsâ radar.
If such a group does attend the station with the intention of physically preventing people from entering or leaving, that could obviously create a very different situation from a conventional counter demonstration.
The police have already said that appropriate policing and stewarding arrangements are being developed and have stressed that there will be consequences for anyone who breaks the law.
đ WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE USING THE STATION?
The main Britain First gathering is expected to begin at 12 noon outside/around Tamworth Railway Station.
That means ordinary passengers could find themselves arriving at exactly the same location as hundreds of protesters and potentially counter protesters.
Whether youâre travelling into Tamworth, catching a train elsewhere or simply using the station as part of your normal Saturday, itâs worth being aware of what is happening.
Tamworth Railway Station is therefore likely to be one of the key points of interest during the early part of the afternoon.
đ° IT IS NOT JUST THE PROTESTS HAPPENING
And this is another important point. Tamworth is still going to be open for business.
Saturday isnât simply âprotest dayâ.
The town is also hosting the 32nd Tamworth Beer Festival, which runs at Tamworth Assembly Rooms from 11am until 10pm on Saturday.
There is also an Indie Weekend Market at Ankerside, running from 10am until 4pm.
So there could be plenty of ordinary residents, shoppers, families, visitors and businesses going about their Saturday while the demonstrations are taking place. That is why the police operation and the behaviour of everyone involved matters.
Itâs sad to see that both the church and the Bell Ringers have cancelled their events on Saturday.
Nobody wants to see community events cancelled, particularly when they are things residents have been looking forward to. But we also understand why they have made that decision keeping people safe has to come first.
What does concern us, though, is the wider impact this protest could have on Tamworth.
How many other businesses, organisations and community groups will now have to reconsider their plans? How many events could be cancelled, scaled back or affected because people simply donât feel comfortable coming into town?
đ˘ A REMINDER FROM US
Whatever peopleâs political views, the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of a democracy. But so is the right of ordinary people to go about their Saturday without being intimidated, assaulted, threatened or prevented from accessing public spaces.
That applies to everyone.
If you are attending either demonstration, stay peaceful. If youâre counter protesting, stay peaceful.
If youâre simply going shopping, meeting friends, attending an event or using the railway station, you shouldnât have to become involved in somebody elseâs political confrontation.
Tamworth can disagree without destroying itself.
We will be keeping an eye on what happens and will bring residents updates as and when we can.
Stay safe, stay sensible and, above all, donât become part of the problem.
