Rishi Sunak has said he will hold the Metropolitan Police Commissioner “accountable” for his decision to greenlight a “disrespectful” pro-Palestinian demonstration to take place on Armistice Day.
Sir Mark Rowley resisted pressure heaped on the force including from the prime minister to try to block the protest in London on Saturday as he said: “The laws created by Parliament are clear. There is no absolute power to ban protest.”
He added that organisers of Saturday’s march had shown “complete willingness to stay away from the Cenotaph and Whitehall and have no intention of disrupting the nation’s remembrance events”.
Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a school in Lincolnshire, Mr Sunak said he thinks the marches are “disrespectful” and would discuss the Met Police Commissioner’s decision with him today.
“He has said that he can ensure that we safeguard remembrance for the country this weekend as well as keep the public safe,” the PM said of Sir Mark.
“Now, my job is to hold him accountable for that.”
