Gaza war: Real horror of the conflict is so far away but many marchers accuse government of inflaming strength of feeling
Busloads of demonstrators came from across the UK to march through London calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday – the 10th demonstration of its kind since the conflict began.
For all the drums, horns and clamour of this protest, the build up to it has had more political noise than most, with the prime minster telling police chiefs that mob rule is replacing democratic rule and making a speech on the steps of Downing Street warning of extremists infiltrating the march.
“Mob rule,” said Pat from Scunthorpe, indignantly, when I relayed the prime minister’s words. She had travelled down to London with three friends.
“It a ridiculous statement to make.
“Look at all these people along here.
“It’s the government being inflammatory against people trying to protest peacefully.”
Pic: PA
Preparations for a demonstration calling for ceasefire in London.
One of the first people I met in the throng certainly didn’t fit the characterisation of ‘mob’: Welsh singer Charlotte Church, who told me she would be singing a song later and wanted to soak up the atmosphere of the march before making her speech.
Jason Farrell talks with Charlotte Church
Further along, I met Ian from Hertfordshire.
“Gaza; it’s hell on earth,” he said, “and all these people in power just sit by and watch it happen.”
A woman from Coventry added: “It’s standing up for humanity and that’s what we are all here for. From all races, all religions, standing up for one thing only, and that’s a ceasefire now.”
As the flood of people wound around Hyde Park Corner and alongside the high-walled gardens of Buckingham Palace, it passed a contingent of around 200 Jewish campaigners behind a banner, also calling for a ceasefire.
There were cheers as the two groups merged.
Among them was Jewish pro-Palestinian campaigner Gillian Mosely. I put to her the words of the counter-extremist tsar, Robin Simcox, that protests were turning London into “a no-go area” for Jewish people. She described that as “absurd”, adding “none of us are scared”.
But just near Westminster Cathedral a small group of mostly Jewish counter-protesters gathered.
“Wouldn’t you be scared?” asked organiser Itai Galmundy.
He wants an end to the marches – “enough is enough,” he said.
He accepted some Jewish people were on the march but insisted they didn’t represent the majority.
“So many people who consider themselves liberal are marching here and chanting ‘from the river to the sea’. Where does it leave us – the Jews, the Israelis that already live there?”
Many interpret the chant, commonly used by the protesters, as an antisemitic call to wipe out the Israeli state.
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There was also a demonstration in Edinburgh on Saturday. Pic: PA
Another counter-protester added: “It’s ironic that they are saying stop the genocide when they are calling for a genocide.
“You don’t see the hypocrisy in that? So, the hypocrisy needs to stop.”
The counter-protest was kept 30 metres from the main march behind barriers and heavy police watch, but it was peaceful.
In a separate incident, an Iranian pro-Israeli protester got up alongside the march holding a banner which said: “Hamas is terrorist”.
Videos showed someone on the march pulling at him and a scuffle ensuing. Police intervened and pulled the counter-protester away.
Some filming the officers interpreted it as the police arresting the man for his banner – and this message quickly proliferated across social media, but in some of the footage it became clear the officers were trying to keep the peace and the man was later de-arrested with the Met releasing a statement to clarify what happened.
It was just a snapshot of the claims and counter claims in the war of words. The real horror of the conflict is so far away, and yet, for many it feels so close to home. The government will struggle to temper the strength of feeling on both sides, but many on the march accused them of inflaming it.
Martin Lewis says motorists who were mis-sold car finance are likely to receive “hundreds, not thousands of pounds” – with regulators launching a consultation on a new compensation scheme.
The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com believes it is “very likely” that about 40% of Britons who entered personal contact purchase or hire purchase agreements between 2007 and 2021 will be eligible for payouts.
“Discretionary commission arrangements” saw brokers and dealers charge higher levels of interest so they could receive more commission, without telling consumers.
Pics: PA
Speaking to Sky News Radio’s Faye Rowlands, Lewis said: “Very rarely will it be thousands of pounds unless you have more than one car finance deal.
“So up to about a maximum of £950 per car finance deal where you are due compensation.”
Lewis explained that consumers who believe they may have been affected should check whether they had a discretionary commission arrangement by writing to their car finance company.
However, the personal finance guru warned against using a claims firm.
“They’re hardly going to do anything for you and you might get the money paid to you automatically anyway, in which case you’re giving them 30% for nothing,” he added.
Read more: How to tell if you’ve been mis-sold car finance
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Who’s eligible for payout after car finance scandal?
Yesterday, the Financial Conduct Authority said its review of the past use of motor finance “has shown that many firms were not complying with the law or our disclosure rules that were in force when they sold loans to consumers”.
The FCA’s statement added that those affected “should be appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way”.
Lewis told Sky News that the consultation will launch in October – and will take six weeks.
“We expect payouts to come in 2026, assuming this will happen and it’s very likely to happen,” he said.
“As for exactly how will work, it hasn’t decided yet. Firms will have to contact people, although there is an issue about them having destroyed some of the data for older claims.”
He believes claims will either be paid automatically – or affected consumers will need to opt in and apply to get compensation back.
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The FCA estimates the cost of any scheme – including compensation and administrative costs – to be no lower than £9bn.
But in a video on X, Lewis said that millions of people are likely to be due a share of up to £18bn.
The regulator’s announcement comes after the Supreme Court ruled on a separate, but similar, case on Friday.
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