An emergency Cobra meeting has been convened ahead of this weekend’s Remembrance Sunday.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has convened a meeting to consider the impact of the Israeli-Hamas conflict in the UK, which has escalated following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said the meeting would “consider a wide range of areas, but there will clearly be a particular focus on the impact of terrorist attacks on UK soil”.
We will also consider how to address the important issue of ‘community cohesion’.
WATCH: Farage says pro-Palestinian marches on Remembrance Sunday should be banned
This comes amid growing anger over plans to hold demonstrations over the weekend.
Mr Sunak’s spokesman said the Prime Minister believed a pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day would be “provocative and disrespectful”.
The official said the government would “carefully consider” applications to block the march.
However, it added that operational decisions on whether to ban planned marches in London will be made by the Metropolitan Police.
“The Prime Minister himself does not think it is appropriate for this type of protest to be scheduled on Armistice Day,” the spokesperson said.
“He believes it is provocative and disrespectful.”
Downing Street has previously said planning such protests would be an “insult to the people”.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Planning these types of protests on and around Armistice Day is provocative and disrespectful.”
“Should monuments be desecrated or should some of the instances of racial hatred that resulted in arrests over the weekend be expressed on this day? I think that would be an insult to the British people.”
The Metropolitan Police yesterday warned demonstrators planning to hold a pro-Palestinian rally in London over the Armistice weekend to stop their protests after meeting with organizers from various groups to discuss their concerns about the marches. “We urge you to reconsider immediately.”
The planned route does not pass by the Cenotaph, but the Metropolitan Police Department said organizers had refused to postpone the demonstration.
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Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose family is trapped in Gaza, also gave his full support to the movement, saying the march should “absolutely” take place this weekend.
P.A.
“The risk of violence and disorder associated with breakaway groups is increasing,” said Deputy Director-General Ade Adelekan. This is a concern ahead of an important and busy weekend in the capital.
“Our message to organizers is clear: please reconsider immediately. It is inappropriate for any protests to take place in London this weekend.”
Union leaders Mick Lynch, Matt Luck and Daniel Kebede said they would join Saturday’s march in solidarity with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, whose family is trapped in Gaza, also strongly supported the movement, saying the march should “absolutely” take place this weekend.
