ITV presenter Ranvir Singh has opened up about receiving calls to quit Good Morning Britain after describing participants in Saturday’s Tommy Robinson march in London as “far-right racists.”
Speaking on the breakfast show on Tuesday, she shared how her remarks sparked both anger and support from viewers across the country.
A Surprising Encounter at the Train Station
Ranvir recounted an encounter that left her uneasy.
While queuing for coffee at her local station, she noticed a man heading to London to join the march.
She described him as friendly and approachable, yet said learning he supported the demonstration made her feel “deeply uncomfortable.”
“In my opinion, you’re going to support someone like Tommy Robinson.
That makes me deeply uncomfortable,” she told hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley.
Despite this, Ranvir stressed she did not believe all 150,000 attendees were racists, noting that her own experiences in the UK contradicted that assumption.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
Her comments triggered a storm on social media, with many expressing outrage.
“About 50 percent of the responses were hateful, demanding I resign,” Ranvir explained.
However, she also received messages of support from viewers who appreciated her honesty.
One particularly reflective message came from a woman named Wendy in West Sussex.
Wendy clarified that she and her husband attended the march without endorsing Tommy Robinson or extremist views.
“We’re just a normal couple… we do not follow Tommy Robinson but he was the one who organised the march,” Wendy wrote.
Discussing Concerns Without Condemnation
Ranvir emphasized that her goal was to spark conversation, not to vilify everyone involved.
“There’s a lot of frustration out there, and it’s important to talk about it,” she said.
She added that some people may attend such events to voice concerns without fully understanding the implications of the political figure leading it.
Impact on Personal Plans
The march also affected Ranvir personally. She revealed she had changed plans to go into London with her son, fearing for his safety.
“It actually made me sad, because I think I should be allowed to go into London and feel safe. I didn’t take my son in – that made me sad,” she shared.
The Tommy Robinson March and Its Fallout
Saturday’s “Unite the Kingdom” march drew an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 participants, making it one of the largest right-wing demonstrations in recent UK history.
The protest, initially focused on free speech and Britain’s small boats crisis, escalated into violence as demonstrators clashed with counter-protesters along Whitehall.
Metropolitan Police described the scene as highly aggressive, with at least 25 arrests and 26 officers injured, including four seriously hurt.
Officers faced missiles and physical assaults while trying to maintain order.
Standing Firm Despite the Backlash
Ranvir acknowledged the challenges of speaking on controversial topics but said the response from those who reached out with thoughtful messages made it worthwhile.
“It’s difficult to speak up because of the hate, but it’s worth doing it when hundreds of people get in touch,” she said.
She also addressed criticism of her labeling the event a far-right rally: “That’s exactly the point I was making.
People may attend things like that even if they don’t fully agree, because they feel they don’t have another outlet for their concerns.”