Minister: unhelpful for politicians to be encouraging demonstrations on the streets
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said he does not think it is helpful for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful protests while police forces have been stretched to cope with several days of violent far-right disorder.
PA Media reports the Cabinet Office minister told viewers of Sky News:
Having spoken to police officers yesterday about the strain that they are under, the hours that they are working, I certainly don’t think it helps for politicians to be encouraging even more people out on our streets.
Nonetheless, we should make that distinction between that tradition of British peaceful protest – which is very much part of our politics – and the violent thuggery we’ve seen on our streets.
People who turn up outside with weapons are not coming to protest about anything – they are coming with criminal intent. We should be very clear about that distinction.”
Key events
Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, writes for the Guardian today, arguing that the enemy of the working class travels by private jet, not migrant dinghy:
The fuse may have been set alight by online disinformation and secretive social media channels, but this explosion of far-right violence has been decades in the making. And while Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (AKA Tommy Robinson) and his mob of far-right agitators are its immediate instigators, much of Britain’s political and media class is complicit in laying the groundwork for this eruption of hate.
This truth of how we reached this point flips the normal classist narrative about racism in Britain. The reality is that racism isn’t a bottom-up expression of popular discontent, but a top-down project propagated by people in positions of power.
Just think about how the billionaire-owned rightwing press drip-feeds hate into British politics, splashing fearmongering headlines across their papers: “Islamist plotters in schools across the UK” – the Telegraph; “1 in 5 Brit Muslims’ sympathy for jihadis” – the Sun; “Migrants spark housing crisis” – the Daily Mail.
Or think how Conservative politicians normalise far-right rhetoric, dehumanising people and spreading hate. From “one nation” Conservatives such as David Cameron who as prime minister described migrants as a “swarm”, to the likes of Suella Braverman who as home secretary said there was a migrant “invasion”. Rishi Sunak’s “Stop the boats” slogan is now a far-right chant and just this week the Tory party leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said the police should “immediately arrest” people shouting “Allahu Akbar” on the street, the Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” – the equivalent of a Christian saying “hallelujah”.
Read more here: Zarah Sultana – The enemy of the working class travels by private jet, not migrant dinghy
Former foreign and home secretary James Cleverly has used the news that the number of people applying to study and work in the UK has dropped to bolster his credentials as a potential future leader. Link to reports about the drop in numbers, Cleverly posted to social media to say “If you want to know what I’d do as party leader … look at what I’ve already done.”
Minister: Online Safety Act will be reviewed after call by Sadiq Khan
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said that the government will respond to Sadiq Khan’s call for a review of the Online Safety Act.
He told listeners of the BBC Radio 4 programme “Sadiq Khan’s challenge is that we quickly review it, consider it, and that’s exactly what we will do. If we need to act in relation to online safety laws – we will.”
The act, which became law last October, gives Ofcom the power to fine social media companies up to £18m or 10% of their global turnover if they fail to take robust action against content inciting violence or terrorism.
Ofcom is still drafting guidelines on how it will implement the law, and enforcement is not expected to begin until next year.
“I think very swiftly the government has realised there needs to be amendments to the Online Safety Act,” Khan said in an interview with the Guardian. “I think what the government should do very quickly is check if it is fit for purpose. I think it’s not fit for purpose.”
Khan said there were “things that could be done by responsible social media platforms” but added: “If they don’t sort their own house out, regulation is coming.”
Read more here: Online Safety Act not fit for purpose after far-right riots, says Sadiq Khan
More people are expected to be charged and sentenced today after days of violent far-right unrest. Three men are due to appear in court after being charged with violent disorder in Sunderland. At least a dozen people were jailed on Thursday for their part in the riots of the past ten days, with sentencing due for four defendants in a Leeds court this morning, during which cameras are to be permitted. Sentencing is also taking place in Newcastle, Teesside, Liverpool, Sheffield, Northampton and London.
Minister: additional police officers to be available heading into weekend after unrest
A government minister has said that there will continue to be additional police officers going into a weekend when the English Football League starts and high temperatures are expected, which has caused some concern that far-right violent disorder might flare again.
Asked about fears “far-right groups could seek to exploit” fixtures, Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News: “You always are vigilant about far-right activity and that is what the Government will continue to be.
He continued “going into this weekend, it’s important that the message continues to go out that if you engage in violent, thuggish behaviour on our streets, you’re going to be dealt with quickly by the criminal justice system.
“We’ve already seen sentences of up to three years handed down, people now facing the inside of a prison cell because of the appalling way in which they’ve conducted themselves in recent days.
“But also we’ll continue to make those additional officers available and where there are communities with particular fears – I was in Bristol for example yesterday talking to Muslim community leaders – we will make sure that we make protection available to those communities as well. It’s hugely important.”
Because of a new television deal with Sky Sports, for the first time on the opening weekend of the season all Championship matches have been moved to a 12.30 kick off, and all League One matches have been moved to a 5.30pm kick off, lengthening the time that authorities expect football fans to be travelling.
Thomas-Symonds is Paymaster General and minister for the Cabinet Office.
Minister: unhelpful for politicians to be encouraging demonstrations on the streets
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has said he does not think it is helpful for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful protests while police forces have been stretched to cope with several days of violent far-right disorder.
PA Media reports the Cabinet Office minister told viewers of Sky News:
Having spoken to police officers yesterday about the strain that they are under, the hours that they are working, I certainly don’t think it helps for politicians to be encouraging even more people out on our streets.
Nonetheless, we should make that distinction between that tradition of British peaceful protest – which is very much part of our politics – and the violent thuggery we’ve seen on our streets.
People who turn up outside with weapons are not coming to protest about anything – they are coming with criminal intent. We should be very clear about that distinction.”
Welcome and opening summary …
Good morning. Welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics. Here are your headlines …
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A government minister has said it is “unhelpful” for politicians to encourage people to attend peaceful demonstrations while the police are under strain from far-right violent disorder
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Laws designed to counter misinformation are “not fit for purpose” and must be revisited after the spread of online falsehoods contributed to this month’s far-right riots, the mayor of London has said
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Muslim NHS workers report rise in racist abuse since far-right riots began
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The number of people applying to work or study in UK falls by more than a third
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A leading rightwing thinktank has called for an end to the two-child limit on benefits in a move that will put further pressure on the Labour government to rethink its stance
It is Martin Belam with you for the next few hours. You can get in touch at martin.belam@theguardian.com.