Rishi Sunak defends new powers for police after coronation protest backlash

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2023

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Rishi Sunak has defended the government’s introduction of new police powers to tackle protests, despite a backlash over the treatment of demonstrators during the coronation.

The Metropolitan Police faced criticism after detaining a number of members of the campaign group Republic on Saturday, and has now expressed “regret” over the arrests, saying its investigation was unable to prove intent to disrupt the event.

The force’s commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said the detentions were “unfortunate”, but insisted his officers were seeking to thwart what he described as a “criminal network”

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Critics placed the blame at the government’s door after the new Public Order Act came into force days before the celebrations, allowing officers to stop and search anyone they suspect is planning to cause disruption.

But the prime minister said it was “right for the government to give police the powers they need to tackle serious disruption”.

Mr Sunak had previously backed the Met over the arrests ahead of the latest statement from the force, despite concerns they were cracking down.

And while answering questions on Tuesday, he defended the government’s move to bring in the new police powers.

‘Right thing to do’

Speaking to broadcasters while visiting a pharmacy, the PM would not answer questions about whether he felt comfortable about what happened to protesters at the coronation.

Instead, he said: “Of course people have the right to protest freely but peacefully, but it is also right that people have the ability to go about their day-to-day lives without facing serious disruption.

“And what the government has done is give police the powers that they need to tackle instances of serious disruption to their lives. I think that’s the right thing to do and police will make decisions on when they use those powers.”

The prime minister added: “We also live in a society where the police are rightly operationally independent of government. They make the decisions on the ground and the way that they see fit. That is the way we have always done it. That’s the right way to do it. It wouldn’t be right for me to interfere with their operational decisions.

“But it is right for the government to give police the powers they need to tackle serious disruption because as we have seen over the last weeks and months there are lots of incidences of people’s day-to-day lives being seriously disrupted by protesters and people are rightly asked why isn’t that being stopped.

“So it is right that the government gives the police the powers to deal with those things, but again those are operational decisions for the police on the ground at the time.”

MPs from the SNP, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have all called for the law to be scrapped.

The SNP’s Alison Thewliss called the legislation “draconian” and “undemocratic”, adding: “By clamping down on the right to protest… the Tories are eroding the basic tenets of a free and democratic society.”

And Green Party peer Baroness Jenny Jones said: “The Met were wrong to arrest people on Saturday, but the government was wrong to give them the powers to do so.

“The Public Order Law essentially criminalises peaceful protest by using an approach similar to that used to disrupt terrorism, drug dealing and gang violence.

“For the sake of democracy in the UK and freedom of speech, these new laws all need to go.”

But Labour would not commit to reversing the bill.

Speaking to Sky News, Lisa Nandy said: “We’re not in the business of just repealing all legislation.

“But we will certainly amend legislation when we’re in government in order to strike the right balance between the democratic right to protest and the right of people in Britain to go about their everyday lives without serious disruption.”

Earlier, a government minister accused some anti-monarchy protesters of planning to cause “really serious and dangerous and stupid disruption”.

Neil O’Brien told Sky News that he didn’t have “any objection to peaceful protests” and “in some cases [the force] might have been wrong”.

But he also argued “in some cases, they did the right thing”, as it was “also a question of what [protesters] were going to do“.

Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic who was one of eight people in his group arrested and detained for several hours, accused the minister of “wild speculation”, saying there had been “no intelligence supporting the arrests”.

“There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the eight people from Republic who were arrested at all,” he told Sky News. “There was no intent. There was no evidence of any intent. There was no evidence of any equipment being carried that would have caused the crime.

“And we were very clear with the police for four months [about] the details of our plans, and they were very clear to us that they were okay with those plans.”

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Mr Smith said the group was now consulting with lawyers about their next steps and would continue to protest against the monarchy while calling for an elected head of state.

Officers arrested 64 people in total on coronation day following new laws to tackle protests being introduced by the government, with 46 of those later bailed after being detained on suspicion of causing a public nuisance or breaching the peace.

UK

British woman dies in French Alps after crashing into another skier

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

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British woman dies in French Alps after crashing into another skier

A 62-year-old British woman has died in the French Alps after colliding with another skier, according to local reports.

The English woman was skiing on the Aiguille Rouge mountain of Savoie at around 10.30am on Tuesday when she hit a 35-year-old man who was stationary on the same track, local news outlet Le Dauphine reported.

It added that emergency services and rescue teams rushed to the scene but couldn’t resuscitate the woman, who died following the “traumatic shock”.

The man she collided with was also said to be a British national.

Local reports said the pair were skiing on black slopes, a term used to describe the most challenging ski runs with particularly steep inclines.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Sky News: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in France and are in touch with the local authorities.”

UK

Singer Linda Nolan dies ’embraced with love’ with siblings by her side

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

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Singer Linda Nolan dies 'embraced with love' with siblings by her side

Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.

The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.

Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.

Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.

“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.

“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.”

As well as her TV and musical career, Linda helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society, Samaritans and others.

“Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy,” Mr McNamara said.

Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday.

Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course.

Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.

Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.

Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.

At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.

Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.

Four siblings struck by cancer

Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent a mastectomy two days before her 47th birthday.

After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.

The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.

They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.

But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.

The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.

Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.

Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.

Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’

TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”

“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”

Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.

The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.

UK

Trainee gas engineer, 20, wins £7.5m in lottery – but won’t quit work

Published

3 hours ago

January 15, 2025

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Trainee gas engineer, 20, wins £7.5m in lottery - but won't quit work

A 20-year-old trainee gas engineer who won £7.5m says he was back working on blocked drains the day after claiming his cash.

James Clarkson, 20, from Carlisle, Cumbria, found out he’d hit the £7,533,329 National Lottery jackpot on 4 January – but said he has no plans to quit his job.

“I was out in the cold fixing blocked drains the day after I found out I had won,” he said.

“It was a bit grim but that’s reality.

“I’m not going to stop working, I’m too young,” he added, admitting he knew it might sound “mad” to some.

“I want to qualify as a heating engineer and then go from there.

“I need to have a purpose in life, plus dad wouldn’t let me not work anyway. He says there are plenty of millionaires out there that still work and you need a reason to get up each day.”

Mr Clarkson added he still planned to have “some nice holidays” in between working, and revealed one of his first purchases was an all-inclusive luxury break to Cape Verde, along with a few designer items including a Gucci bag for his girlfriend and two new jackets for himself.

He said he also planned to splash out on a new car, possibly an Audi – but for now, he’s got his work van.

“If you drive a cold work van all day, going from job to job, you’d understand,” he said.

“The comfort, the steering, the heated seats. I realise how jammy that sounds, not many people my age can afford the car insurance let alone a car like that to drive.”

As a huge Manchester City fan, he said he was also looking to buy a season ticket at the Etihad Stadium, as well as taking care of his extended family – starting with paying off his parents’ mortgage.