Rishi Sunak has stated his intention to hold the Metropolitan Police Commissioner accountable for permitting a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Armistice Day. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with Sir Mark Rowley to address this issue later today. This follows Sir Mark’s refusal to yield to political pressure to block the protest, which calls for a Gaza Strip ceasefire, from taking place in London on Saturday.
During a visit to a school in Lincolnshire on Wednesday, the Prime Minister remarked, “This is a decision that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has made. He has said that he can ensure that we safeguard remembrance for the country this weekend as well as keep the public safe. Now, my job is to hold him accountable for that.”
Sir Mark maintained that the demonstration on November 11th would proceed because the “legal threshold” for halting it on security grounds had not been met. He assured that the event would be kept separate from remembrance and armistice activities, but he also pointed out that, legally, there was no mechanism to ban a static protest.
Rishi Sunak’s meeting with Sir Mark will focus on how the police plan to ensure that the protesters remain away from Remembrance Day events. Sunak expressed his view that such marches are disrespectful, a sentiment he intends to discuss with the Police Commissioner later in the day.
Sunak had previously criticised the planned march as “provocative and disrespectful” and expressed concern about the potential desecration of memorials like the Cenotaph. This meeting takes place as the police guard the Rochdale Cenotaph in Greater Manchester following three incidents this week.
The Prime Minister strongly condemned the vandalism of war memorials and emphasised the importance of the country coming together to pay tribute and honour the sacrifices made over the years in wars that were, in part, generated by the UK.
The protest organisers have indicated that their demonstration in London on Saturday will be far removed from the Cenotaph in Whitehall, running from Hyde Park to the US Embassy and not starting until after the 11 am silence to remember those who died in wars.
While the Met had urged the organisers to reconsider due to the growing risk of violence, the pro-Palestinian coalition behind the event has chosen not to cancel it.
The police have the authority to request a ban under the Public Order Act if they anticipate serious public disorder, criminal damage, or disruption to the community. However, Sir Mark explained that this power is rarely used and should be reserved for situations with credible intelligence of a “real threat” of trouble.
He also expressed concern about “splinter groups” and “troublemakers” but noted that arrests at previous protests were relatively small given the large attendance.
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