Sadiq Khan slammed by Government over dealing with of Palestine rallies | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Rishi Sunak is “appalled” by footage of a police officer threatening to arrest a Jewish man at a pro-Palestine rally. The Prime Minister desires the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to “account” for the rising issues over the Met’s dealing with of protests and marches.

And the Scotland Yard chief, amid requires him to resign, will face questions over how officers can “do more to make Jewish communities in London feel safe”.

Gideon Falter, the Chief Executive of the Campaign Against AntiSemitism was described as “openly Jewish” throughout a protest in central London on April 13.

In the clip, one other officer advised Falter he can be arrested if he didn’t go away the world as a result of he was “causing a breach of peace with all these other people” as his presence was “antagonising”.

A Government supply mentioned: “The PM has seen the footage and is as appalled as everyone else by the officer calling Mr Falter “openly Jewish”.

“He expects the Met Commissioner to account for how it happened and what he will do to ensure officers do more to make Jewish communities in London feel safe – and Sadiq Khan to do his job in holding the Met to account.”

The Government’s impartial adviser on political violence and disruption, Lord Walney, mentioned Scotland Yard has “too often” received it flawed over pro-Palestine protests.

And Home Secretary James Cleverly will this week maintain talks with Sir Rowley. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman led the requires Britain’s high police officer to give up.

Government sources burdened that they nonetheless retain confidence within the head of Scotland Yard, however insisted the Mayor of London ought to face extra scrutiny for being “entirely absent”.

A Government supply advised the Daily Express: “Where is Sadiq Khan? His role is to hold the police to account and yet he has been entirely absent.”

Another supply mentioned Mr Cleverly wrote to Sir Mark after the incident and “will be speaking to him this week”. They added of the Mayor of London: “There are serious questions about where the Mayor is in all of this.

“The Met is his police force, and it is as incumbent on him as much as the Commissioner to ensure that Jewish people feel safe in our capital.” Jewish leaders have demanded a gathering with Sir Mark over the approaching days after a “series of high-profile errors”.

And the Board of Deputies of British Jews mentioned on Sunday: “Since the horrific terror attacks of October 7, almost every weekend we have seen tens of thousands of people march through the centre of London on ‘anti-Israel’ protests.

“While many marchers may have genuine concerns regarding the terrible situation in Gaza, others have taken the opportunity to amplify hideous antisemitic conspiracy theories, while a number clearly wish for the complete destruction of the world’s only Jewish state.

“The Metropolitan Police have made a series of high-profile errors in their responses to these demonstrations. The entirely avoidable mistakes have had a devastating effect on the previously high level of trust held by the UK’s Jewish community in the police.

“We have written to the commissioner to ask for an urgent meeting to reinforce the gravity of the situation and to begin to repair this grievous loss of confidence.”

The Government’s impartial adviser on political violence and disruption, Lord Walney, mentioned Scotland Yard has “too often” received it flawed over pro-Palestine protests.

He advised the Camilla Tominey Show on GB News: “Sir Mark Rowley is an intelligent man who is deeply committed to getting right to what is a difficult situation, but let’s be clear, the Met has too often in recent months not got it right.

“What you saw on the screens there was one of the most egregious examples I think of not getting the balance [right].”

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Mrs Braverman demanded Rowley’s resignation, saying individuals who had been “flagrantly antisemitic” had been being “waved on by the police”.

She mentioned: “Either this is gross incompetence, or it’s a culture coming from the top, where thugs are free to intimidate and harass while the rest of us have to keep our mouths shut and stay out of the way.”

Mr Falter mentioned of the debacle: “Racists, extremists and terrorist sympathisers have watched the excuses and inertia of the Met under his command and been emboldened by his inaction at precisely the moment when he should be signalling a renewed determination to crack down on this criminality.

“What the Met under Sir Mark has done to the Jewish community over the course of six months is utterly unforgivable and it is time for him to go. Enough is enough.” Cabinet minister Claire Coutinho on Sunday mentioned Sir Mark shouldn’t resign over the most recent controversy to hit the power.

She advised Camilla Tominey on GB News: “I was the minister for free speech and I think this really is fundamental…that everyone should have equal freedoms. What you can’t do is place the needs of one identity over the needs of another. I think that was happening.

“So I think it is really important that we get a grip on this. Like I say I can’t speak for the conversations that the Home Secretary is going to have with Sir Mark but I would just remind everyone that the person who’s got accountability for London is the Labour London mayor.”

Asked if the Met Police and the commissioner have been mishandling the pro-Palestinian protests, she mentioned: “I completely would say that. I think there’s been a number of mistakes. It’s not an easy thing to police. I would say that it’s difficult for policing at the moment, not just in this country but around the world.

“But it’s really important that we do grip this because this is about people’s fundamental ability to feel like they have equality in this country, and that’s why it’s so important.”

A spokesman for Mr Khan mentioned the Met’s dealing with of the incident was “concerning” and that the power “must have the confidence of the communities they serve”.

Mr Falter, suggesting opponents of pro-Palestinian marches “must know that their presence is provocative” and they’re “increasing the likelihood of an altercation” by lining the path to object.

But the power subsequently issued one other assertion apologising for the “further offence” attributable to its first apology.

A Home Office spokesman mentioned: “We welcome the Met Police’s apology, and recognise the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests, but simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative.

“Anyone of any faith ought to be free to go about their lives and really feel secure doing so.”