Rayner says far-right violence isn't the way the UK does politics

  • last month
Thousands of counter-protesters flock onto British streets to crowd out anti-immigration demos planned at '100 sites' - leaving agitators in Brighton seeking protection from police as the country remains largely calm
Angela Rayner issues a firm rebuke to the far right violence spreading throughout the UK after islamophobic and racist protests broke out across England.
Thousands of Brits have sent a message to far-right thugs who plotted to attack the offices of immigration lawyers - after turning out in huge numbers to see off hate in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

Around 100 hate-fuelled protests were planned across the country tonight, many of which were planned in now-deleted far-right groups on apps such as Telegram, with police deployed in their biggest mobilisation of resources since the 2011 riots.

Thugs had been using now-banned channels on the app to threaten the lives of anti-racism campaigners, make sick slurs and exchange tips on how to 'hood up'.

But promises to turn up at immigration centres, lawyers and refugee hostels at 8pm seemingly vanished into thin air - as hate mobs were seemingly cowed by a swell of anti-racist protesters who turned out in force in cities across the UK.

Counter-protesters have come out in their thousands in Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and several London boroughs to send one clear message: Britain does not welcome hate.

The demos came as scores of arrests and dozens of convictions were made in rapid time following more than a week of unrest after three young girls were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29.

Police have also vowed to go after those sharing hate and inciting unrest online as:
Transcript
00:00I know that the public will be feeling anxious about the reports of potential more unrest tonight
00:07but the police will be there to respond to any violent and criminality that we see on our streets.
00:12There's no place for that on our UK streets and the police will do their job
00:17like they have done exceptionally well under very difficult circumstances.
00:21Coming on the streets, throwing missiles at the police, attacking police,
00:24attacking hotels like this one I'm here today is not a legitimate grievance.
00:29It's not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that.
00:34This is thuggery, this is violence.
00:37Someone could have got seriously injured over the last couple of days and it's no excuse for that.

Recommended