Extremist groups are a growing threat to British democracy, says Rishi Sunak in Downing Street speech – as it happened
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Rishi Sunak has claimed extremist groups in the UK are “trying to tear us apart”, in a hastily arranged Downing Street statement hours after George Galloway won a byelection in Rochdale.
The prime minister condemned what he called “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality” after the 7 October massacre by Hamas and the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
He also claimed democracy itself was a target, as he condemned the election of Galloway, who easily won the seat in Rochdale on a platform that focused on anti-Israel sentiment over Gaza.
In a sometimes rambling and seemingly contradictory 10-minute address, Sunak made points likely to anger MPs on the right of the Conservative party such as Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick, who have sought to frame recent tensions as almost entirely the responsibility of Islamist extremists.
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ShareGalloway says he does not understand claim he ‘glorifies Hezbollah’ and challenges Sunak to discuss it with him
George Galloway said he did not understand Rishi Sunak’s suggestions that he “glorifies Hezbollah” but hoped they could discuss it on Wednesday if the prime minister “has the guts”.
Sunak said the newly-elected MP for Rochdale “dismisses the horror of what happened on 7 October”, “glorifies Hezbollah” and is “endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the BNP”.
“I’m not responsible for whoever declares they endorse me … I’ve never met Mr Griffin and have no intention to,” Mr Galloway told Channel 5 News. “I don’t know what the glorifying of Hezbollah is all about but maybe he can tell me on Wednesday at Prime Minister’s Questions if he’s got the guts.”
Galloway added that he “abhors extremism just as much as [Sunak]” and “also agreed with him when he said change can only come through the democratic process”.
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Updated at 14.06 EST
Tories have sown ‘division for years’, Lib Dem leader says
The Liberal Democrat leader has, in effect, accused Rishi Sunak of hypocrisy, saying the prime minister’s promotion of some Conservative MPs who have made controversial remarks has “sowed the seeds of division for years”.
“The British people will take no lessons from a prime minister and Conservative party who have sowed the seeds of division for years,” said Sir Ed Davey. “This is the same prime minister who made Suella Braverman his home secretary and Lee Anderson his party’s deputy chairman.
“If the prime minister is serious about bringing people together, he would call a general election now so that the British public can decide the future of our country.”
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Updated at 14.05 EST
Citizens have a right to go about their business without intimidation, Starmer says
The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared to back Sunak’s message calling for unity in the country.
In a statement, he said: “The prime minister is right to advocate unity and to condemn the unacceptable and intimidatory behaviour that we have seen recently. It is an important task of leadership to defend our values and the common bonds that hold us together.
“Citizens have a right to go about their business without intimidation and elected representatives should be able to do their jobs and cast their votes without fear or favour. This is something agreed across the parties and which we should all defend.”
ShareGalloway victory ‘beyond alarming’, Sunak says
Sunak says Galloway’s victory is “beyond alarming”. He has said:
In recent weeks and months, we have seen a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality. What started as protests on our streets have descended into intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence.
Jewish children fearful to wear their school uniform lest it reveals their identity. Muslim women abused in the street for the actions of a terrorist group they have no connection with.
Now, our democracy itself is a target. Council meetings and local events have been stormed. MPs do not feel safe in their homes. Longstanding parliamentary conventions have been upended because of safety concerns.
And it’s beyond alarming that last night, the Rochdale byelection returned a candidate that dismisses the horror of what happened on 7 October, who glorifies Hezbollah and is endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the BNP.
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Updated at 14.06 EST
Sunak says extremist groups are a growing threat to British democracy
Rishi Sunak is speaking outside No 10. He says there’s a growing threat to British democracy – and refers explicitly to the election of George Galloway in the Rochdale byelection last night.
The prime minister talks up the tolerance of the “pluralist, modern” country he says the UK is, but says this is under threat from people looking to capitalise on Hamas’ attacks on Israel, and the resulting assault on Gaza, to undermine British values.
He names Islamist extremists and the far-right, calling them “two sides of the same extremist coin”.
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Updated at 12.51 EST
Rishi Sunak to make Downing Street speech about ‘need to protect democratic processes’
Rishi Sunak is planning to make public remarks from Downing Street on Friday evening, No 10 officials have said.
“The prime minister’s address will touch on recent events, including in parliament last week, and the need to protect our democratic processes,” Downing Street said in a statement.
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