Birmingham MP Urges Communities To "Let The Police Do Their Job" Amid Far Right Protests

Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, Preet Kaur Gill, has condemned the far-right riots across the UK and said communities targeted by rioters should "not feel that they can take the law into their own hands".

The MP made the remarks after a week of rioting from the far-right in various locations across the UK including Southport, Middlesborough, Belfast, Rotherham, and Hull.

Rioters attacked police, looted, set cars alight, and in some cases even attempted to set fire to buildings reportedly housing asylum seekers being processed by the Home Office. An extra six thousand police officers have been mobilised to deal with protests this evening.

On Monday, groups of Muslim men in Bordesley Green, Birmingham congregated in the street following reports on social media the far right were planning a march through the area. 

Some were seen carrying weapons - with a breakaway group reportedly chasing journalists, and attacking a nearby pub. 

Prime minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday night communities "will be safe" and that those involved in disorder would face the consequences in court.

"We're doing everything we can to ensure that where a police response is needed it's in place, where support is needed for particular places, that that is in place," said Starmer. 

The Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston told PoliticsHome she had been aware of unverified information being shared on platforms like WhatsApp before local men gathered in the street in Bordesley Green, some armed, in anticipation of far-right marches over the weekend. 

"What we saw in Bordesley Green and Yardley was obviously communities coming out, feeling that they needed to a show the strength and saying that we won't accept anybody coming in to cause trouble," said Gill.

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