Suella Braverman told to resign as far-right mobs clash with riot police near Cenotaph
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As violence erupts between far right thugs and riot police around Whitehall, political figures are calling for Suella Braverman’s head – accusing her of stoking the fire after she claimed the police show bias towards pro-Palestinians
Many on X have called for Braverman to go after violence erupted in London (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been told to resign as violence erupted between far-right protestors and the Met police on Armistice Day.
The trouble on the streets came after the controversial Tory Home Secretary wrote an article in the Times accusing the police of being biased towards pro-Palestinian marches. Many accuse her of emboldening far-right groups as turmoil now grips London’s streets on supposedly the most solemn day of the year.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said Braverman has “spent her week fanning the flames of division” following her article – which has lead to many calling for her to be sacked by Rishi Sunak. “The far-right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary,” Yousaf said. “They are now attacking the Police on Armistice Day. The Home Secretary’s position is untenable. She must resign.”
Large crowds of far-right thugs have clashed with police and broken through cordons
It comes after the Met police set up a no-go zone for Palestinian protestors around the Cenotaph – but did not put the same measures in place for far-right counter-protestors. DAC Laurence Taylor said counter-protestors would be allowed in Whitehall – i.e. near the Cenotaph – because “the sole purpose and intention is to protect the sanctity of the Cenotaph and Remembrance”.
He added: “I don’t anticipate there will be any disorder from that group – the disorder will come from a pro-Palestinian group going into that area whilst they are there if they are there. If a counter-protest is within the Whitehall footprint, I will be allowing that.”
But London Mayor Sadiq Khan denies any culpability for the police, saying the “scenes of disorder by the far-right” are a “direct result of the Home Secretary’s words”. He added: “The police’s job has been made much harder. The Met have my full support to take action against anyone found spreading hate and breaking the law.”
Riot police have now been brought in to deal with the disorder, with reports emerging on Twitter that Tommy Robinson – founder of the EDL and vital figurehead among the far right – has now fled the scene in a black cab. Videos show far right thugs chanting at police: “You’re not English anymore.”
Some have called for Rishi Sunak’s head along with Braverman’s. Lib Dem MP Layla Moran wrote on Twitter: “As the police in central London work to contain the far-right, and everyone starts to blame Suella Braverman, just remember who chose to not only give her the job but also chose not to sack her. Rishi Sunak is as, if not more, responsible for what happens today.”
Frightening videos on X show the moment a far-right crowd charged through police lines (
Image:
X/@ScoopUrban)
Former Labour Director of Communications Alastair Campbell said if Sunak fails to sack Braverman we “might as well not have a government until they’re gone”. He added that the Conservative party “put a match to cultural tinder” and Braverman herself “poured on petrol with her nonsense about police bias”.
“Now what should be a weekend of remembrance is becoming a ghastly source of division and possible violence,” he continued. “Her job is meant to be maintaining security not provoking violence and division. Sunak weakens himself and the government and the authority of our institutions every day he tolerates her dog whistling extremism.”