UK

Tory shadow minister says sorry after appearing to justify riots

Charlie Moloney
Sun, 4 August 2024 

THE GUARDIAN


Police rescued a couple from a house next to a burning car on Parliament Road, Middlesborough, during violent far-right protests.Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer


The Conservative shadow Welsh secretary has apologised after he was accused of “inflaming” the riots by suggesting they were politically justified.

Lord (Byron) Davies had became embroiled in the controversy while exchanging comments with a Mail on Sunday columnist on X.

The columnist, Dan Hodges, had posted: “There’s no political justification for the disorder we have seen. But if people want to get into the blame game these are the facts. The Tories were in power for 14 years. Labour have been in power for four weeks. Blaming Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper for this is just ridiculous.”


Davies, the former MP for Gower, responded: “But Labour blocked the Rwanda Bill 130+ times of course it’s politically justified!”

Jo Stevens, Labour’s Welsh secretary, was among many who condemned the peer for his remarks.

“The shadow Welsh secretary’s comments are disgusting, misguided and dangerous. Racist violence is never justified,” she said. “Politicians, including unelected ones, have an important responsibility to de-escalate tensions. Those inflaming them should seriously consider their position.”

Davies, who is now shadowing Stevens after the Tories lost every seat in Wales at the last election, posted on X: “I apologise if earlier words have been misconstrued, particularly at such a sensitive time. To be crystal clear, I utterly condemn the violence in our cities. What I am criticising is Labour’s totally negative approach to immigration & organised crime. I stand by that.”

Anti-immigration rioters were seen attacking police and smashing the windows of a hotel in Rotherham on Sunday as the atmosphere turned increasingly febrile on the sixth day of unrest in England.

Masked men launched lengths of wood and sprayed fire extinguishers at officers outside a Holiday Inn Express, with some storming past a police line and into the ground floor, which was set on fire during the disorder.

At least 10 officers were injured, including one who was knocked unconscious, South Yorkshire police confirmed later, saying one person was already arrested and others involved should “expect us to be at their doors very soon”.

A group of rioters in Middlesbrough smashed the windows of houses and cars and hurled objects at officers on Sunday afternoon, with one seen shouting a racial slur and another telling police: “It’s our country.”

Similar scenes of unrest in Southport, Belfast, Hartlepool, Hull, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Sunderland and elsewhere had taken place earlier in the week.

Cleveland police has said nine arrests have been made.


Sunak issues warning to shadow cabinet minister accused of “inflaming” riots

David Maddox
Sun, 4 August 2024 

A senior member of Rishi Sunak’s shadow ministerial team has been branded “disgusting” after appearing to suggest that the far right riots sweeping the UK are the fault of Labour opposing the Rwanda deportation scheme.

Shadow Welsh secretary Lord Byron Davies got caught up in an exchange on X/Twitter with Mail on Sunday columnist Dan Hodges over whether there could be any political justification for the riots.

After appearing to suggest that the fault lay at the feet of Sir Keir Starmer and Labour for opposing the Rwanda scheme, Rishi Sunak has ordered that he is spoken to by the chief whip in the Lords after initially declining to take action..

Labour’s new Welsh secretary Jo Stevens condemned the peer who is currently shadowing her after the Tories lost every seat in Wales at the last election.

A fire is extinguished by police officers outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham (PA Wire)

She posted: “The shadow Welsh secretary's comments are disgusting, misguided and dangerous. Racist violence is never justified.

“Politicians, including unelected ones, have an important responsibility to de-escalate tensions. Those inflaming them should seriously consider their position.”

The row has come on a day when Rotherham became the latest English town to be scarred by far-right violence with a hotel set on fire with asylum seekers inside it.

Violent scenes have hit Southport, Liverpool, Belfast, Hull and Halifax since misinformation about the murder of three girls in Southport triggered the first wave of civil unrest in the Merseyside seaside resort.

The exchange started with Mr Hodges stating: “There’s no political justification for the disorder we have seen. But if people want to get into the blame game these are the facts. The Tories were in power for 14 years. Labour have been in power for four weeks. Blaming Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper for this is just ridiculous.”

Lord Davies, the former MP for Gower, responded: “But Labour blocked the Rwanda Bill 130+ times of course it’s politically justified!”

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak hs taken no action against Davies (PA)

A surprised Mr Hodges questioned whether it was a genuine account but Lord Davies confirmed it was.

He said: “I am for real @DPJHodges and stand by my comment, that Labour’s lack of support in parliament to find a solution to the boat issue, cannot be politically justified.”

Mr Hodges retorted: “That’s not what you said. My tweet, and your reply, are clear.”

But an unrepentant Lord Davies replied: “You can put whatever interpretation you like to entertain your followers but the fact remains, Labour were unhelpful in passing legislation to combat the issue of the boats and for that, there cannot be any political justification. That’s what I said and that’s what I mean.”

A Conservatve Party spokesman made it clear that Lord Davies had been given a warning about his conduct.

He said: “These comments are unacceptable. Lord Davies is being spoken to by the Lords opposition chief whip and reminded of the consequences of the misuse of language at such a sensitive time and the standards expected of him as a member of the shadow cabinet.”

Lord Davies is not the only senior tory to face questions over statements on the riots with Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones also criticised for a statement she issued, deleted and then reissued which some critics saw as giving justification to the angry scenes

Tory police commissioner blames illegal immigration for riots

Albert Tait
Sun, 4 August 2024 

Protests and riots over the last week are a 'rebellion to illegal immigration', Donna Jones said - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images


A Tory policing chief has suggested that “mass uncontrolled immigration” is one of the reasons behind rioting which has spread across the UK.

In a statement Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, compared the riots over the last week to a “rebellion to illegal immigration”.

The Conservative politician said that while not justifying any violence she had spoken to people from “both sides of the spectrum” and claimed there was value in “understanding the views of those attending rallies who feel strongly but don’t cause disorder”.

On Saturday, there were violent confrontations in Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Belfast and more than 90 arrests were made.

Police officers were attacked and forced to draw their batons as they came under fire from bricks, bottles and flares.

The riots have been sparked by the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport on Monday.

Donna Jones says she has 'spoken to people on both sides of the spectrum' - OPCC Hants & IOW/Solent News & Photo Agency

On Saturday evening, as violence surged across the country, Ms Jones, who claims to be the UK’s most senior police commissioner, released a statement which appeared to justify some of the activities.

On Sunday, rioting continued in Middlesbrough, Bolton and Rotherham where rioters attacked a hotel housing migrants.

“I’ve spoken to people from both sides of the spectrum and the only way to stem the tide of violent disorder is to acknowledge what is causing it,” Ms Jones said.

“Whilst the devastating attacks in Southport on Tuesday were a catalyst, the commonality amongst the protest groups appears to be focused on three key areas: the desire to protect Britain’s sovereignty; the need to uphold British values, and, in order to do this, stop illegal immigration.”

She said arresting people was “treating the symptom and not the cause” and that the Prime Minister had questions to answer about how the new Labour Government would tackle immigration and uphold British values.


Nazir Afzal, the Former chief prosecutor, called her comments “totally unacceptable” and said she was “appearing to justify rioting and criminality that police officers are bravely having to deal with right now”.

Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, told The Telegraph: “First and foremost, it demeans the office that she holds.

“We can accept that there is anger in parts of the community about immigration but that doesn’t mean we legitimise thuggery.

“Considering the number of police officers who have been injured, I believe her position is untenable. She should resign, and if not, she should be sacked.”

Ms Jones is also the chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners in the UK.


Following the criticism, she released another statement, praising the police and condemning “those acting outside the law”, but refusing to back down from her position.

“I stand by my statement issued [Saturday] where I called for calm, and for the country to work together to stop this mindless, criminal behaviour”, she wrote on the official website of the commissioner on Sunday.

“I fully support the police’s response to stem the growth of these riots and those acting outside of the law should expect to feel the full force of it.

“The violence we have seen has endangered our communities and infected lawful protest on a much broader issue.

“As a country this issue is something we should seek to understand without letting it divide us.

“I am confident there will be a time and place for that discussion in due course,” she added.