Tommy Robinson tapping into disquiet in country, says minister

Tommy Robinson tapping into disquiet in country, says minister

According to Business Secretary Peter Kyle, the recent protests in London, which saw thousands of people joining a march and counter-protest, are indicative of a deeper sense of disquiet in society. Figures like far-right activist Tommy Robinson are tapping into this unrest, with up to 150,000 people joining a “Unite the Kingdom” rally organized by Robinson, while about 5,000 participated in a counter-protest organized by Stand Up To Racism. The Cabinet minister emphasized that while most participants were exercising their right to freedom of association and freedom of speech, the small minority who resorted to violence will be held accountable.

Kyle highlighted the need for those in power to address the underlying concerns that people have, particularly regarding issues like immigration. He expressed concern about the divisions in society that transcend traditional left-right political divides. According to Kyle, the roots of this disquiet can be traced back to the financial crisis and the lasting impact it had on communities across the country. Efforts to rebuild and reunite these communities have been challenging and have not been entirely successful.

Elon Musk’s comments at the rally, where he urged protesters to “fight back” or “die”, were criticized by Kyle as inappropriate and incomprehensible. The tech billionaire also made controversial statements about uncontrolled migration and called for a change of government in the UK. Meanwhile, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, criticized politicians for echoing his ideas and raised concerns about the rights of undocumented migrants overriding those of the local community.

The protests in London required a significant policing operation, with around 1,000 officers deployed in central London. While the protest started peacefully, tensions escalated as the day progressed, leading to confrontations between the two groups. The Met Police reported that officers were attacked while trying to maintain order, resulting in injuries to dozens of officers. A total of 24 people were arrested, with the police working to identify additional individuals involved in the disorder for potential further arrests in the coming days and weeks

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