London: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom has voiced his apprehensions, suggesting that the country is veering towards “mob rule”. His remarks follow the announcement of a new government initiative aimed at curbing protests related to the conflict in Gaza.
Addressing a gathering of police chiefs on Wednesday, Sunak expressed, “There is a growing consensus that mob rule is replacing democratic rule.”
“And we’ve got to collectively, all of us, change that urgently,” he emphasized.
While Sunak did not explicitly point fingers at any particular group during his speech to the top law enforcement officials, his comments come amidst a surge in pro-Palestine demonstrations across the UK.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists, numerous UK Members of Parliament (MPs) have reported feeling threatened and unsafe due to a spate of pro-Palestine protests outside their residences. These MPs have also highlighted an escalation in receiving death threats.
Sunak urged the police to take additional measures to safeguard the nation’s democratic values. Just prior to his meeting with police chiefs, the UK Home Office unveiled a £31 million funding package aimed at enhancing security measures for lawmakers and other public figures.
“We simply cannot allow this pattern of increasingly violent and intimidatory behavior which is, as far as anyone can see, intended to shout down free debate and stop elected representatives from doing their job. That is simply undemocratic,” remarked the UK PM.
Additionally, Sunak introduced the “Defending Democracy Policing Protocol”, which calls upon police leaders to utilize existing powers to address protests that “cross a line,” particularly those occurring outside the residences of lawmakers.
“Protests at the home addresses of elected representatives, including MPs and councillors, should generally be considered intimidatory, and the police have adequate powers, including Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, to direct protestors away,” the protocol outlines.
Responding to Sunak’s assertions of “mob rule”, Amnesty International’s UK division described them as “wildly exaggerated”. “Talk of ‘mob rule’ wildly exaggerates the issue and risks delegitimizing the rights of peaceful protest,” remarked Tom Southerden, Amnesty’s UK Director of Law and Human Rights.
