Former home secretary: ‘Sick, clearly criminal’ anti-Jewish chants must stop’

Suella Braverman has condemned “sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal” chants and placards at a pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day as police charged seven people over disorder that mainly stemmed from far-right counter-protests.

The former Home Secretary, while still in post, demanded “further action” as she warned that London’s streets are “being polluted by hate, violence and antisemitism”, in comments that appear unlikely to calm tensions.

She praised police for their “professionalism” in the face of “violence and aggression from protesters and counter-protesters”.

But her first public remarks since Saturday’s ugly scenes focused on displays of antisemitism by some on the pro-Palestinian march she had urged police to ban.

The Metropolitan Police said seven men had been charged with offences including assault on an emergency worker, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

Officers made 145 arrests during the main demonstration and the counter-protest by far-right groups, the force said.

Mrs Braverman has been under fire for inflaming tensions after she last week branded pro-Palestinian protesters “hate marchers” and accused police of bias for allowing the rally coinciding with remembrance events to go ahead.

Writing on social media site X on Sunday, she said: “The sick, inflammatory and, in some cases, clearly criminal chants, placards and paraphernalia openly on display at the march mark a new low. Antisemitism and other forms of racism together with the valorising of terrorism on such a scale is deeply troubling.

“This can’t go on. Week by week, the streets of London are being polluted by hate, violence, and antisemitism. Members of the public are being mobbed and intimidated. Jewish people in particular feel threatened. Further action is necessary.”

Praising police, she said: “Our brave police officers deserve the thanks of every decent citizen for their professionalism in the face of violence and aggression from protesters and counter protesters in London yesterday.

“That multiple officers were injured doing their duty is an outrage.”

Nine officers were injured as they prevented a violent crowd reaching the Cenotaph.

Mr Sunak has said he expects far-right “thugs” and “Hamas sympathisers” to face “the full and swift force of the law”.