ITV presenter Ranvir Singh has revealed she has been urged to quit Good Morning Britain after suggesting people at the weekend’s Tommy Robinson march were far-right racists, prompting a fierce backlash from viewers.
The 48-year-old journalist explained on Tuesday’s programme how many viewers had called on her to leave after she used the provocative term to describe those who attended Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rallies in central London, which drew between 100,000 and 150,000 protesters.
Singh told hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley that she had received significant hate messages after speaking out against the event, with approximately half of the responses consisting of abuse directed at her, including demands for her resignation.
Coffee Shop Encounter Sparks Controversy
The controversy began on Sunday when Singh recounted an encounter at her local train station where she met someone attending the march. She confessed she was surprised that this seemingly “lovely” man could be what she considers to be far-right or racist.
“Actually, it was interesting, at my local station, I was just queuing up to get a coffee, and the man in front of me was getting coffee from the guy who I think is Sri Lankan at the station,” Singh explained during the segment that sparked the backlash.
“We all know him, he’s been there for years – a lovely, really jolly chap, a white guy. He said, ‘oh, I’m going into London, I’m going to join the Tommy Robinson march’.”
The star added that the man made her deeply uncomfortable, stating: “In my opinion, you’re going to support someone like Tommy Robinson. That makes me deeply uncomfortable.”
Safety Concerns for Her Son
Singh revealed that the march had made her so concerned about safety that she changed plans to go into London with her son. She told GMB: “It actually made me sad, because I think I should be allowed to go into London and feel safe.”
“I live here, it’s my place. But I didn’t, I didn’t take my son in – that made me sad. You know, the fact that you think, ‘oh, it’s not safe for my little brown boy to be in London’ – it’s a sad thing.”
Her comments prompted an angry response, much of it coming from those who had attended the demonstration to express their views on immigration and free speech.
Mixed Response from Viewers
Speaking on Tuesday’s breakfast show, Singh addressed the response she had received. “Half of it was hate directed at me – people wanting me to resign and things like that. It’s what happens when you speak out on anything like that,” she said.
“But half of people saying thank you for saying what you said because it resonated. And I just want to mention somebody called Wendy who’s DM’d me and is reflective of the vast majority in the middle, and I massively appreciate her getting in touch.”
Singh read out Wendy’s message, which stated: “Saw you on the TV, you were talking about the march that happened on Saturday. I’m sorry that you felt like you couldn’t do what you wanted to do that day. Me and my husband went to the March on Saturday.”
“We just wanted to say that we are not racists or far-right. We’re just a normal couple that live in West Sussex with our 21-year-old. We do not follow Tommy Robinson but he was the one who organised the march. If it was organised by someone else we still would have gone.”
Standing by Her Description
Despite the backlash, Singh stood firm on her characterisation of the event. “A lot of the hate towards me was saying that it was a far-right rally, but that’s what we’re describing it as – it’s the biggest far-right rally that’s been organised by the UK in our living memory,” she continued.
“The idea that a lot of people hate the fact that it’s been called a far-right rally is not my problem. That’s exactly the point I was making, that lots of people feel to go to things like that and follow people they might not really agree with because they don’t know where else to go with their concerns.”
Singh also expressed her disbelief at the scale of the march, stating: “I cannot believe… I don’t want to believe that 150,000 people are out and out racists. That isn’t my experience of this country. In my head, I just can’t equate that monolith, that huge number of white faces with my experience in this country. It just doesn’t seem right to me.”
Violent Clashes Mar Demonstration
Saturday’s ‘Unite the Kingdom’ march brought as many as 150,000 protesters to central London in what is believed to be the largest right-wing demonstration in British history, according to Metropolitan Police estimates.
While the rally began largely peacefully as demonstrators voiced their anger over free speech and Britain’s small boats crisis, it exploded into violence when protesters and counter-protesters closed in on each other along Whitehall.
Met Police chiefs blasted anti-migrant protesters for displaying a “wholly unacceptable” level of violence, with at least 25 people arrested and 26 police officers injured, including four who were seriously hurt. The injuries included broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury.
The force said it faced “significant aggression” from protesters as officers attempted to police the event, with many assaulted and peppered with missiles including bottles, flares and other projectiles.
Political Response
Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the number of people who attended the demonstration was evidence free speech is “alive and well” in the UK, though he condemned the violence.
Speaking after the rally, Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to never surrender the Union flag to those using it to sow “violence, fear and division” and said the country “will not stand” for attacks on police officers.
The Prime Minister posted on X: “People have a right to peaceful protest. It is core to our country’s values. But we 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.”
“Britain is a nation proudly built on tolerance, diversity and respect. Our flag represents our diverse country and we will never surrender it to those that use it as a symbol of violence, fear and division.”
Elon Musk’s Controversial Appearance
The protest featured a guest appearance via video link from Tesla and X owner Elon Musk, who called for an urgent change in government in the UK and told protesters to “fight back” or “die. Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the tech billionaire’s comments as “slightly incomprehensible” and “totally inappropriate”.
Calls for Conversation
Despite the heated response, Singh emphasised she was seeking dialogue rather than confrontation. “For me that was the kind of conversation I was trying to have yesterday. There’s a lot of people who are just feeling frustrated,” she explained.
“It’s difficult for someone like me to speak up on controversial subjects because you do get a lot of hate. But it’s worth doing it when hundreds of people have got in touch.”
The incident highlights the deep divisions in British society over immigration, free speech, and how protests should be characterised, with Singh’s experience demonstrating the personal toll that public figures face when addressing these sensitive topics.
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