Corbyn and McDonnell interviewed by police after Palestine march
The Metropolitan Police said they agreed to attend voluntarily at a station in central London to be interviewed under caution on Sunday afternoon.
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have been interviewed under caution by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday.
The former Labour leader, 75, and former shadow chancellor, 73, voluntarily attended Charing Cross police station on Sunday as the Met investigated what it said was a coordinated effort by organisers to breach conditions imposed on the event.
Nine other people – including Corbyn’s brother Piers and the Stop The War Coalition’s Chris Nineham – have been charged with public order offences following arrests at the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
In a statement, the force said the nine people charged – who include Chris Nineham, a chief steward on the march, and Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn -are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the coming days.
Police added on Sunday:” A 75-year-old, 73-year-old and 61-year-old will be interviewed by officers this afternoon.”
Corbyn and McDonnell were photographed leaving the central London police station on Sunday afternoon.
The Independent MP for Islington North challenged the Met’s claims posting on X;” I was part of a delegation of speakers, who wished to peacefully carry and lay flowers in memory of children in Gaza who had been killed.
“This was facilitated by the police. We did not force our way through.
“When we reached Trafalgar Square, we informed police that we would go no further, lay down flowers and disperse.
“At that point, the Chief Steward, Chris Nineham was arrested. We then turned back and dispersed. “I urge the police to release all bodycam footage and retract its misleading account of events.”
McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, who currently sits as an independent in the Commons after losing the Labour whip, also posted a similar statement on the same social media platform.
He also claimed:”Regrettably, soon after I had explained to the police officer our intentions and we awaited the arrangements to lay the flowers, bizarrely the police violently arrested one of the march stewards, who was organising the presentation of the flowers and the dispersal of the crowd.”
Nineham, a chief steward on the march, also posted on X:”Came out of police station, dishevelled, earlier today. Now at home, safe and well.
“Overwhelmed by support outside the station, on socials and WhatsApp.
“Thanks to each and every one of you. ”
Police had imposed a condition on the organisers of the rally under the Public Order Act that prevented them gathering outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House because of its close proximity to a synagogue and a risk there could be “serious disruption” as congregants attended services on the Jewish holy day.
Police said a group of protesters attempted to march from the rally and were stopped a short distance away after breaking through a police line to gather at Trafalgar Square.
A further condition required the rally to be confined to Whitehall.
In a post on X, on Saturday, the Met posted a photo of what it described as a group “that forced its way through the police line” being held at the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
