The EDL march was held in support of the arrival of Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who was due to show his anti-Islamic film Fitna in the House of Lords, having been invited by UKIP peer Lord Pearson. Wilders was barred from entering the UK last year as the Home Office viewed his presence as a “threat to one of the fundamental interests of society”. The ban was subsequently overturned.

Following a successful municipal election this week, Wilder’s far-right Freedom Party could have the single largest majority at the Dutch general elections on 9 June. Wilder has courted controversy in the past by comparing the Koran to Mein Kempf and the cornerstone pledge of his party is to “stop the Islamification of the Netherlands”.

One of the detained protestors in London was quoted on the Socialist Party website as saying: “We have committed no crime and have been selected at random for holding by the police, on the basis of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“This is an outrage and an attack on a basic human right, that of freedom of speech and assembly, outside the Houses of Parliament.

“Whilst Geert Wilders is free to whip up racist tensions, those opposing him are denied a voice.”

Labour MP John McDonnell this afternoon criticised the “overreaction of police” who allegedly “launched an assault on the anti-fascist protestors”, amid reports of violence and aggressive behaviour on the part of the forces.