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Suella Braverman has doubled down on calls for more action to be taken against pro-Palestine protesters.

The home secretary last week failed to get marches banned over the remembrance weekend, after the Metropolitan Police said it had the resources to manage the hundreds of thousands of people who turned up – as well as far-right counter-protests.

Politics latest: Braverman hits out at ‘sick’ chants

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In a series of posts on X (Twitter) sent this afternoon, Ms Braverman said “further action is necessary” against the protests, which were resulting in “the streets of London… being polluted by hate, violence, and antisemitism”.

The home secretary paid tribute to officers, saying “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.”

This is a marked contrast to last week, when she accused the Metropolitan Police of holding “double standards” on how it polices protests.

She added: “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.”

Some have accused Ms Braverman of inflaming tensions, leading to more people descending on the capital.

More than 140 people were arrested in the disorder, both on the pro-Palestinian side and the far-right counter protest side.

The Met Police’s deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said the force faced a “really challenging day” dealing with the protests.

Ms Braverman’s job is now on the line, with opposition parties calling for Rishi Sunak to sack her, and a lack of support from her ministerial colleagues.

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‘A week is a long time in politics’

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It is not clear what “further action” Ms Braverman deems necessary.

She and Mr Sunak were ultimately unable to stop the remembrance weekend demonstrations from going ahead. In order for a march to be banned, the police must apply to the home secretary for approval on the grounds that it would not be safe to let the event go ahead.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley decided in this case that his force would be able to police the protests sufficiently – leaving Mr Sunak accepting that they were going ahead but frustrating Ms Braverman.

Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, is set to submit a report to Downing Street which will suggest a change of law, so police can apply to ban a march if it is expected to have impacts on a community like the pro-Palestinian demonstrations have had on the Jewish community.

Sir Mark has repeatedly voiced his frustration at being asked to do things by the government which are not contained within statute.

Following last week’s clashes, Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman are facing another showdown this week, with the Supreme Court set to rule on the legality of the Rwanda deportation scheme.

If a reshuffle does take place, Ms Braverman vacating the Home Office portfolio could lead to a wide reshuffle in Mr Sunak’s cabinet as he eyes the election – which has to take place by January 2025 at the latest – as he trails Sir Keir Starmer by more than 20 points.

There is speculation that the reshuffle could happen as soon as Monday.

People protest against in the Rwanda deportation plan in London
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A judgement on the Rwanda plan is due this week

But Mr Sunak might want to keep the home secretary in place until the latest legal wrangling over one of her flagship policies progresses.

The Supreme Court will rule on Wednesday on the legality of the Rwanda deportation scheme, which was introduced under Boris Johnson and Priti Patel, but hardened under Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman.

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BlackRock Bitcoin ETF set for ‘monstrous lead’ with SEC options boost

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BlackRock Bitcoin ETF set for ‘monstrous lead’ with SEC options boost

BlackRock Bitcoin ETF set for ‘monstrous lead’ with SEC options boost

BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF will get a boost from the SEC’s decision to raise the limit for options contracts 10-fold, NYDIG’s Greg Cipolaro said.

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CFTC starts ‘crypto sprint’ with SEC following White House plans

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CFTC starts ‘crypto sprint’ with SEC following White House plans

CFTC starts ‘crypto sprint’ with SEC following White House plans

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will work with the Securities and Exchange Commission to implement White House crypto recommendations.

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£100m border security boost – as govt vows ‘major crackdown’ on people smuggling gangs

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£100m border security boost - as govt vows 'major crackdown' on people smuggling gangs

The government has vowed to push for a “major new crackdown” on people smuggling gangs with a £100m cash boost for border security.

The investment will support the pilot of the new “one in, one out” returns agreement between the UK and France, and other efforts to crack down on small boat crossings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said this new funding will “strengthen” the government’s “serious and comprehensive plan” to dismantle the business model of criminal gangs smuggling migrants across the Channel.

But the Conservatives have claimed the cash injection will make “no real difference”, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp branding the move a Labour “gimmick” and a “desperate grab for headlines”.

The funding will pay for up to 300 new National Crime Agency (NCA) officials, “state-of-the art” detection technology and new equipment to “smash the networks putting lives at risk in the Channel”, ministers say.

It will also allow the Border Security Command, the NCA, the police and other law enforcement agency partners to “strengthen investigations targeting smuggling kingpins and disrupt their operations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and beyond”.

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July: 25,000 migrants have crossed Channel

The new investment comes as official figures show more than 25,000 people have arrived on small boats so far in 2025 – a record for this point in the year.

Ms Cooper said: “In the last 12 months, we have set the foundations for this new and much stronger law enforcement approach – establishing the new Border Security Command, strengthening the National Crime Agency and UK police operations, increasing Immigration Enforcement, introducing new counter terror style powers in our Border Security Bill, and establishing cooperation agreements with Europol and other countries.

“Now this additional funding will strengthen every aspect of our plan, and will turbo-charge the ability of our law enforcement agencies to track the gangs and bring them down, working with our partners overseas, and using state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

“Alongside our new agreements with France, this will help us drive forward our Plan for Change commitments to protect the UK’s border security and restore order to our immigration system.”

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The £100m investment will also support new powers to be introduced when the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill becomes law, the Home Office said.

This includes the introduction of a UK-wide offence to criminalise the creation and publication of online material that promotes a breach of immigration law, such as the advertisement of small boat crossings on social media.

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July: Hundreds gather for protest outside ‘migrant’ hotel

Research suggests about 80% of migrants arriving to the UK by small boat used internet platforms during their journey – including to contact agents linked to smuggling gangs.

While it is already illegal to assist illegal immigration, ministers hope the creation of a new offence will give police more powers and disrupt business models.

Mr Philp accused the Labour government of having “no serious plan, just excuses, while ruthless criminal gangs flood our borders with illegal immigrants”.

He said: “The British public deserves real action, not empty slogans and tinkering at the edges.”

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