Keir Starmer Compares Rebuilding Britain To The Post-Riots Clean-Up Operation

Keir Starmer will compare the job of rebuilding Britain to the clean-up operation which followed the riots.

Hundreds of volunteers came together in the wake of the recent disorder to repair the damage done by far-right thugs.

That included rebuilding walls outside a mosque which was targeted by racists in the wake of the Southport killings.

Three young children were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last month.

Misinformation spread online about the identity of the alleged killer – amplified by the likes of Nigel Farage – resulted in widespread disorder across England and in Northern Ireland.

In his first major speech since becoming PM, Starmer will tomorrow tell voters that “things will get worse before it gets better” as Labour tries to repair the damage done by 14 years of Tory rule.

Referring to the aftermath of the riots, he will say: “I feel real pride in the people who cleaned up the streets — rebuilt walls, repaired the damage.

“I thought about the obvious parallels. Because imagine the pride we will feel as a nation when after the hard work of clearing up the mess is done, we have a country that we have built together. Built to last.”

The prime minister will also say that the rioters exploited the “cracks” which had developed in the country since the last wave of civil unrest which hit the UK in 2011.

“When I think back to that time, I see just how far we’ve fallen,” he will say. “Because responding to those riots was hard, but dealing with the riots this summer was much harder.

“Not having enough prison spaces is about as fundamental a failure as you can get.

“And those people throwing rocks, torching cars, making threats – they didn’t just know the system was broken. They were betting on it. They were gaming it. They saw the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure – and they exploited them. That’s what we have inherited.”

Share Button

Russia – And Possibly Farage – May Be Looked At By Security Services In Riots Probe, Ex-MI6 Head Says

The former head of MI6 claimed the intelligence services will be investigating Russia, Tommy Robinson and possibly even Nigel Farage in their probe into how the far-right riots started.

The UK was hit by a wave of far-right extremism and violence earlier this month, triggered by social media disinformation around the suspect in the Southport stabbings, where three young girls were killed.

Various accounts falsely claimed the person behind the horrific incident was an asylum seeker and on the MI6 watchlist – allegations which then acted as a catalyst for the anti-immigration riots.

Former MI6 spy, Christopher Steele, previously put together a dossier on Donald Trump’s relations with Russia.

He worked for MI6 between 1987 and 2009, and believes intelligence services will now be looking at who evoked the riots.

He told Times Radio on Sunday he believes Russia was involved, while also noting that English Defence League (EDL) founder Robinson, and Reform Party leader, MP Farage, could also be under the spotlight.

Steele said: “I think the Security Service will be looking very carefully at the instigators of these activities, including people like Tommy Robinson, even conceivably Nigel Farage, who incidentally said that we were being misinformed by the government about Southport.”

Farage falsely claimed the police were not telling the whole truth around the tragedies in Southport shortly after the stabbings first happened, and suggested the suspect was already known to the security services.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been encouraging the riots online while on holiday in Cyprus.

Steele continued: “The Security Services require warrants, obviously, to do some of that.

“But I think essentially, looking at communications, looking at travel, looking at financial transfers is the heart of this problem.

“And if we’re going to get to the bottom of it, certainly the government should be doing those things in terms of the instigators. Now, whether Nigel Farage in the end is defined as an instigator of this, I don’t know.”

He added: “They’ll be looking at things like their travel movements, who they’ve been in touch with, monetary transfers, and so on, because that will reveal or not, as the case may be a pattern of behaviour, which can lead to some conclusions about the degree to which Russia has been interfering in this situation.”

Steele explained that he thinks think it’s “clear” there is some Russian involvement, but added: “The degree to which that’s happened and the effectiveness I think is still out for question.

“I mean, when you look at the original disinformation that surrounded the Southport killings, that does seem to have come from a Russian linked website.

“It’s in very much Russia’s interest to destabilise countries like Britain and the United States.”

Share Button

Keir Starmer Warns Social Media Is Not A ‘Law-Free Zone’ After Sadiq Khan Reveals Concerns

Keir Starmer signalled that a firmer crackdown on social media may be in the works after the London mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his concerns.

After a week and a half of far-right riots – partially driven by social media disinformation and online conspiracy theories – Khan said the government has “very swiftly” realised the Online Safety Act needs to be amended.

The mayor added: “I think it is not fit for purpose.”

The Online Safety Act became law last October, and allows regulator Ofcom to fine social media companies up to £18m or 10% of their global turnover if they do not take illegal content off their platforms.

However, these fines will not come into effect fully until 2025.

On Friday, the prime minister was asked for his response to Khan’s comments.

He said: “I do agree that we’re going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder, but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder and making sure that our communities are safe and secure.”

Starmer added: “This is not a law-free zone. And I think that’s clear from the prosecutions and sentencing. Today we’re due sentencing for online behaviour.”

Two people linked to inciting the violence seen all over the UK in the last few days online have now been jailed.

The PM continued: “That’s a reminder to everyone that whether you’re directly involved or whether you’re remotely involved, you’re culpable, and you will be put before the courts if you’ve broken the law.”

He said tech bosses should be “mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure”.

Starmer did not directly mention the boss of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, who has been in a war of words with the PM over the riots.

He responded to various clips of extremists clashing with the police, claiming “civil war in inevitable” in the UK and pushing conspiracy theories like “two-tier policing”.

Khan, one of the most high-profile Muslim politicians in the UK, also told the Guardian on Thursday that he felt “triggered” by the racist riots.

He said: “I’m somebody who grew up in the 1970s and 80s and experienced the National Front and the BNP and I thought that’s behind us.

“Like a lot of people of my generation, I felt triggered by the events of the last couple of weeks in particular.”

Khan has regularly faced abuse online too – but he noted it was not “realistic” to boycott any social platforms.

“One of the ways we can address people’s fears is using the medium that’s used by citizens and that is social media platforms.” he said.

Share Button

Police Arrest Labour Councillor For Allegedly Saying Far-Right Protesters Should ‘Have Their Throats Cut’

Police have arrested a Labour councillor who allegedly said far-right protesters should all have their throats cut has been suspended by the party.

Ricky Jones is accused of making the comment at an anti-racism rally in Walthamstow, east London, on Wednesday night.

A video of the rally shows a man saying: “They are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all of their throats and get rid of them all.”

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London.

“He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act. He is in custody at a south London police station.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.”

It means Jones has had the Labour whip removed and will now sit as an independent councillor while an investigation by the party is carried out.

Share Button

Russian Government Spokesperson Has A Rather Unhelpful Take On UK Riots – And Brits’ Right To Protest

A top Russian politician in Vladimir Putin’s government has weighed in on the far-right riots in the UK, claiming people “have every right to express their disagreement” with the government.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, took aim at Downing Street rather than the anti-immigration extremists who have caused chaos up and down the country over the last week.

In a statement released on Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs’ website, she claimed the British government was paying “lip service to what it called the democratic principles” after home secretary Yvette Cooper told police to be as “tough and harsh as possible”.

More than 400 protesters have been arrested in the last week with many charged for their connection to the disorder.

It comes after social media misinformation incited looting, arson, disorder and violence up and down the country.

Zakharova said: “It is now up to the UK authorities and police to stay within the confines of the law.”

It’s worth remembering there is an international arrest warrant out against Putin for the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Still, Zakharova claimed: “It must be recalled that people have every right to express their disagreement with the government policies.

“In this context, Russia calls on London to refrain from any unjustified or unproportionate [sic] use of violence against protestors and ensure their right to freedom of assembly.”

Russia actually has a history of violently suppressing early signs of dissent itself.

Moscow even arrested peaceful protesters who held up blank pieces of paper shortly after Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Zakharova also claimed: “Russia is known for opposing and never allowing itself to meddle into the domestic affairs of other countries.”

Moscow has, over the years, been accused of interfering in major events in other countries, including the last UK general election and the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Russia has repeatedly denied such accusations, though.

Zakharova continued: “This is why our country refrains from lecturing others on ways of overcoming their internal challenges and crises.

“On the contrary, it is the Western countries, led by the United States, who act this way.

“They would have been better off paying more attention to their own challenges instead of seeking to undermine stability around the world.”

The UK, along with Ukraine’s other Western allies, has been providing military aid and financial support to Kyiv to protect it against Russia’s land grab over the last two and a half years.

Moscow has subsequently taken aim at the West repeatedly, often threatening to deploy its nuclear weapons.

Share Button

Elon Musk Hits Back At Keir Starmer As War Of Words Over Riots Intensifies

Elon Musk has hit back at Keir Starmer as the war of words between the pair intensified.

The prime minister slapped down the billionaire tech boss for claiming “civil war is inevitable” in the UK in the wake of the far-right riots which have taken place across the country in the past week.

The PM’s official spokesman said: “There’s no justification for comments like that and what we’ve seen in this country is organised illegal thuggery which has no place on our streets or online.

“We’re talking about a minority of thugs that do not speak for Britain and in response to it we’ve seen some of the best of our communities coming out to clean up the mess and disruption.

“You can tell from that the prime minister doesn’t share those sentiments.”

But responding to a video posted on X by Starmer on Monday afternoon in which he said the government “will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities”, Musk replied: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on all communities?”

The clash came after the PM chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee on the riots.

Starmer said they agreed to set up a “standing army of duty officers” to swoop on any trouble that flares up.

Those arrested for taking part in the violence will be immediately named and shamed, the PM said, while they will also “feel the full force of the law” when they appear in court.

In a swipe at social media firms that spread misinformation and allow right-wing messages to be shared to millions of people, Starmer said: “The criminal law applied online as well as offline and I am assured that is the process that is being followed.”

Nearly 400 people have so far been arrested for taking part in the riots, with that number expected to rise in the days ahead.

Share Button

We’re Still In Danger Of Lockdown Riots Unless We Can Keep A Lid On The Tinder Box

HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. Click ‘I agree‘ to allow Verizon Media and our partners to use cookies and similar technologies to access your device and use your data (including location) to understand your interests, and provide and measure personalised ads. We will also provide you with personalised ads on partner products. Learn more about how we use your data in our Privacy Centre. Once you confirm your privacy choices here, you can make changes at any time by visiting your Privacy dashboard.

Click ‘Learn more‘ to learn and customise how Verizon Media and our partners collect and use data.

Share Button