Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an….Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an….
Still, the government has vowed a harsh and swift crackdown on what Mr. Starmer called “far-right thuggery.” Nearly 400 people have been arrested so far, but he and the police say they will track down others they know were involved in the riots and fomenting hate online, and arrest them.Speaking after an emergency meeting on Monday with government ministers, police representatives, civil servants, and representatives from the police and intelligence services, Mr. Starmer announced a plan for a “standing army” of specialist police officers to deal with the disorder.“This is not protest, it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities,” he said of the riots. “The full force of the law will be visited on those who have been identified as having taken part in these activities.”Mainstream politicians — even those who believe that illegal immigration is a major problem — have remained united in their condemnation of the violence, with members of the previous Conservative government voicing unqualified support for a firm response to the riots. Rishi Sunak, the former prime minister and current leader of the Conservatives, who pushed a much-criticized plan to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda, called out the “violent, criminal behavior that has no place in our society.”Priti Patel, a former Conservative Home Secretary who introduced some of the country’s most stringent laws on asylum seekers, said in a letter to the current home secretary that “now is a moment for national reflection and solidarity — to pull back from the wave of violence we have seen, to call it out for what it is,” and “for Parliament to speak with one voice in condemnation.”Even tabloid newspapers that typically take aim at the Labour government instead focused more on the mayhem.Some Conservatives, Ms. Patel included, have also urged Mr. Starmer to recall Parliament from summer recess so that lawmakers can have more of a say in the response. And James Cleverly, a Conservative lawmaker and former home secretary, told British news outlets the government was “slow off the mark” in dealing with the riots.write the story.
In the wake of recent riots that have rocked the nation, the government has committed to a decisive and forceful response. Nearly 400 individuals have been arrested, with assurances from Mr. Starmer and law enforcement that those implicated in the violence and online hate speech will be tracked down and brought to justice.Following an emergency meeting involving key government officials, police, and intelligence representatives, Mr. Starmer announced the formation of a specialized task force of police officers dedicated to addressing the unrest. He emphasized the severity of the situation, denouncing the violence as an attack on religious communities and vowing that the perpetrators would face the full extent of the law.The violence has garnered widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. Rishi Sunak, former prime minister and current Conservative leader, decried the criminal behavior associated with the riots, despite his controversial asylum seeker policy. Priti Patel, former Conservative Home Secretary, called for national unity and reflection, urging Parliament to come together in its condemnation of the violence.Even traditionally critical tabloid newspapers have shifted focus from their usual critiques of the Labour government to cover the chaos of the riots. Some Conservatives, including Patel, have called for Parliament to be recalled from its summer recess to provide a more robust legislative response. James Cleverly, another Conservative figure, criticized the government’s initial handling of the situation as inadequate.Overall, the political and public response underscores a unified stance against the violence, with leaders from various factions calling for strong action and solidarity.
