The King has praised ordinary Brits who rose up against far-right hate in the wake of the Southport stabbings, praising the way in which ‘the aggression and criminality from a few’ had been met by ‘the compassion and resilience of the many’. King Charles spoke warmly of the ‘many examples of community spirit’ that have thwarted attempts to instil hate and fear in communities across Britain during a call with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tonight in the wake of the rioting.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
He also spoke to police chiefs about the strain their officers have been under as more than 100 are thought to have been injured attempting to keep the peace amid hate riots stoked online by the far-right. Charles, who is currently on holiday at his Birkhall home in Scotland but has continued to work and been updated daily on the recent unrest, is understood to have been monitoring events for a number of days. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said his calls with the Prime Minister and police leaders came after a series of ‘private calls throughout the week concerning recent events – and in particular the impact they have had on affected communities’.
King Charles has voiced his support for ordinary Brits pushing back against the ‘aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many’
Thugs during a far-right anti-immigration protest in Rotherham on August 4
A thousands-strong anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, where far-right thugs had reportedly intended to assemble outside an immigration office on Wednesday
The King has praised the resilience of those who turned out to counter far-right and racist hatred that spilled onto the streets, engineered by online bile
The monarch spoke to police chiefs as well as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (seen here visiting Solihull on Thursday)
While details of such calls are normally recorded in the court circular, the official record of royal engagements, it is unusual for so much detail to be given and underlines the seriousness of the national crisis.
The Palace spokesperson continued: ‘This evening The King held a phone audience with the Prime Minister, and additionally had a joint call with the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, and UK Gold Commander Ben Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex.
‘In these calls, His Majesty was updated on the current situation and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services for all they are doing to restore peace in those areas that have been affected by violent disorder.
‘Additionally, The King shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many.
‘It remains His Majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.’
Earlier this week the Mail reported that Charles, 75, had been keeping a keen eye on unfolding events but would not be speaking publicly given the extreme political discourse around them.
However he hopes to visit affected communities in the coming weeks and months to speak to police and local leaders.
Any such visit would only take place when it does not place an additional burden on frontline services at a time when they are so stretched.
It is also anticipated that the King will address the issues more directly and express his concern for affected communities once the circumstances are right.
While there have been calls for the King to make a public statement, it has been noted that the late Queen chose not to make a public comment in the immediate aftermath of the 2011 riots.
As is usual, the monarch would only say anything on government advice.
A man wearing an England flag looks at a huge crowd of anti-racist protesters in Finchley on Wednesday
A man draped in an England flag stands in front of police officers in Southampton – as a large group of anti-racism protesters assembles behind him on Wednesday
Hundreds of anti-hate protesters gathered in Bristol to see off hateful far-right thugs who planned to descend on the city on Wednesday
A huge crowd of anti-racism protesters in Walthamstow on Wednesdau – far outnumbering the hateful thugs who planned to protest outside an immigration centre
Anti-immigration and counter-protesters clash in North Finchley
Thousands of people turned out on Wednesday in cities and towns across the country to see off hate mobs who were believed to be organising more than 100 assemblies, including more than 30 attacks on immigration centres and law offices.
Astonishing, heart-rending photographs showed huge gatherings of anti-racist protesters in Walthamstow, north London as well as in Bristol, Brighton, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and many other locations.
Plans to attack immigration-linked businesses and offices across the country on Wednesday were circulated on a far-right chat group on Telegram that has since been deleted by the app’s usually notoriously reluctant moderation team.
It said the channel broke one of Telegram’s very few rules – one that forbids inciting violence.
But after the gatherings either failed to materialise or were severely outnumbered by anti-racist protesters, far-right figures tried to backpedal on the protests even happening at all, claiming it had all been a joke.
The far-right had cynically exploited the deaths of three children in Southport on July 29 in order to pursue an agenda of racist hate – allegedly sparked by false information online about the identity of the suspect in the attacks.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed camp in Southport on 29 July.
Axel Rudakubana, 17, born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda, has been charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon.
The deaths sparked riots in Southport that then spread to Rotherham, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Blackpool, with the seeds of further demonstrations sown online by far-right hate figures on social media and group chats on the app Telegram.
Some of the far-right hate mobs have targeted mosques as well as accommodation for asylum seekers, while others have indiscriminately burned and looted libraries and Citizens Advice bureaus.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said 483 arrests had been made as of yesterday afternoon, with this number expected to ‘continue to rise significantly’.
Thousands of specialised police officers are due to remain on duty this weekend in case the rioting resumes after three days of calm.
Sir Keir has reiterated that police should remain on ‘high alert’ going into Saturday.
Sir Keir Starmer – pictured visiting the Met Police command and control centre in Lambeth today – has told police to remain on ‘high alert’ into the weekend
Anthony Livesey, 25, and Colin Demulder, 36, pleaded guilty to violent disorder after attacking a lone black man
Footage showed a mob attacking the pedestrian in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester in one of the most shocking incidents to have emerged so far from a week of unrest
Moment police arrest Britain’s oldest rioter William Morgan
William Morgan shouted ‘I’m English’ and ‘I’m f***ing 70 mate’ as he was arrested for violent disorder in Liverpool on Saturday
During a visit to the Metropolitan Police’s special operations room in Lambeth on Friday, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: ‘My message to the police and all of those that are charged with responding to disorder is maintain that high alert.
‘I’m absolutely convinced that having the police officers in place these last few days, and the swift justice that has been dispensed in our courts have had a real impact.
‘But we have to stay on high alert going into this weekend because we absolutely have to make sure that our communities are safe and secure and feel safe and secure.’
Among those sentenced on Friday was a Facebook user who has become the first person jailed for stirring up racial hatred by using social media.
Jordan Parlour, 28, admitted posting on the social media platform between August 1 and August 5 urging others to target a hotel in Leeds, which at the time was housing more than 200 asylum seekers and refugees.
Parlour, of Seacroft, Leeds, was jailed for 20 months at Leeds Crown Court.
Elsewhere, 26-year-old Tyler Kay was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court to 38 months in prison after taking to social media to call for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight.
And a judge today savaged ‘cowardly and disgraceful’ thugs who were involved in a shameful attack on a lone black man. Anthony Livesey and Colin Demulder both admitted violent disorder as they attacked a lone black man in Manchester.
District Judge Lucy Hogarth told Livesey: ‘I have worked in criminal justice for nearly 30 years, and I am not often lost for words but this offence that was committed by you and your friends is one of the most cowardly and disgraceful cases I have ever experienced.’
Footage emerged of 69-year-old rioter William Morgan shouting ‘I’m English’ and ‘I’m f***ing 70 mate’ – to which an officer responded, ‘Well, why are you at a f***ing riot?’.
He was arrested for violent disorder in Liverpool on Saturday and subsequently jailed for two years and eight months.
A former Labour councillor has meanwhile been remanded in custody after he was charged with encouraging violence while addressing a crowd during an anti-fascist protest in Walthamstow, east London, on Wednesday.
Ricky Jones, 57, entered no pleas at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, after a video emerged in which he appeared to call for far-right protesters’ throats to be ‘cut’ during a demonstration the previous day.
Jones, who has been a councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, has already been suspended by the Labour Party.
He is next due to appear at Inner London Crown Court on September 6.
