A pro-Palestinian protest on Armistice Day will go ahead, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said.
Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said “people should be very reassured that we’re going to keep this away from the remembrance and armistice events”.
He said that legally there is “no mechanism to ban a gathering, a static protest” – but that “if there’s a march towards the rally… that march in extremis can be banned.
“If over the next few days the intelligence evolves further and we get to such a high threshold – it’s only been done once in a decade – where we need to say to the home secretary we need to ban the march element, then of course we will do.
“But that’s a last resort we haven’t reached,” he added.
The prime minister and the home secretary believe any protest should be stopped amid fears some people could cause trouble and deface memorials such as the Cenotaph.
The Met commissioner said the force was working with organisers as they finalise their plans and is looking at what “extra conditions” might be needed.
Rishi Sunak has said the “provocative and disrespectful” march on Saturday – when many pause at 11am to remember people who died in wars – shouldn’t be allowed.
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He wrote to Sir Mark and said there was “a clear and present risk” that memorials such as the Cenotaph “could be desecrated”.
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Braverman criticises protests
Home Secretary Suella Braverman called it “entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London”.
She told Sky News anyone trying to vandalise the Cenotaph “must be put into a jail cell faster than their feet can touch the ground”.
Organisers have said the protest will be “well away” from the monument, instead going from Hyde Park to the US embassy, and that it won’t start until after the 11am silence.
The last time a march was banned was an English Defence League event in 2011.
Police can ask the home secretary to approve a ban under the Public Order Act if they believe there will be serious public disorder, serious criminal damage, or serious disruption to the community.
The Met chief admitted concern about “splinter groups” and “troublemakers” but said arrests at previous protests were small considering the tens of thousands attending.
He refused to comment on the home secretary’s view that the events are “hate marches” and said his job was to look at the operational facts and not get involved in debate.
The organiser of the march yesterday insisted it would go ahead despite another senior Met Commander urging them to cancel due to a growing “risk of violence and disorder linked to breakaway groups”.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it would continue to work with police to ensure public safety.
No demonstrations are planned for Remembrance Sunday, when veterans parade past the Cenotaph and politicians and royals lay wreaths.
Tens of thousands have demonstrated in London in recent weeks over Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Met said there were 29 arrests during a fourth week of protests last Saturday.
People were detained for offences including assaulting police officers, supporting a terror organisation and inciting racial hatred.
Five people were also arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at London’s King’s Cross station on Friday.
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has declared a critical incident due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and patients being admitted to wards.
The hospital said there had been a spike in people with flu and respiratory illnesses going to emergency departments in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for the hospital said it had a “comprehensive plan in place” and was “taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances”.
“We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity,” they added.
The hospital warned some people would experience delays as it prioritises the sickest patients.
People whose case isn’t an emergency are being asked to see their GP, pharmacy or walk-in centre – or call the 111 service for advice.
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The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is in the city centre and is the biggest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire.
Declaring a critical incident can happen when a hospital is experiencing exceptional demand, or sometimes if there is a serious problem with staffing levels.
It indicates it can’t function as normal and allows it to take extra measures to protect patients, such as prioritising the most unwell people and getting support from other agencies.
It could last hours, a few days, or weeks if necessary.
A critical incident was also declared on Friday by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.
It said it had seen almost four times as many inpatients compared with last year and urged people with flu to avoid going to A&E.
Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumoured to be engaged after the 28-year-old actress appeared at the Golden Globes wearing a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger.
They met after working together on 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship in 2021.
Sky News has contacted representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment.
Zendaya chatted to journalists on the Globes red carpet, where she was nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in the romantic sports drama Challengers.
Despite being pipped to the prize by Demi Moore, who won for her role in body horror The Substance, there was plenty of buzz around Zendaya’s large diamond ring, which was clearly visible throughout the show.
A Los Angeles Times reporter appeared to ask Zendaya about it, holding up her own engagement ring and pointing to it. Zendaya responded by showing her left-hand ring.
The reporter then asked if the actor was engaged and “she kept showing her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously”.
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Holland, who is also 28, wasn’t at Sunday’s Globes.
Zendaya wore an orange Louis Vuitton ball gown, and diamond jewellery from Bulgari – for which she’s an ambassador – on the Globes red carpet.
But while the Dune star’s other jewellery items were listed in a press release, there was no mention of the ring on her left finger.
Zendaya, who rose to fame after her breakout role in Disney sitcom Shake It Up, became a household star after starring in Euphoria.
Tom Holland, who is the son of British actor/comedian Dominic Holland, won a role in Billy Elliot The Musical as a child, and has gone on to achieve global fame playing Spider-Man in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.