The government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing its first major crisis as distrust in the state spreads rapidly. In response to the violent riots occurring in many parts of the UK, the British Mail on Sunday bluntly stated that the country is experiencing a "summer of discontent."
On the weekend of August 3-4, the biggest riots in 13 years erupted in several British cities, resulting in injuries to police and property damage. Protests of varying scales took place in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke, Belfast, and others. In some areas, bricks were thrown, shops were looted, and even the police were attacked.
These riots are the worst in the UK since the summer of 2011, when the killing of a mixed-race man by police in North London sparked widespread unrest.
It’s noted that the incident occurred less than a month after the formation of the new British Cabinet. The Labour party, led by the new prime minister, had hoped that their landslide victory in the general election would usher in a political honeymoon lasting through the summer. However, the euphoria surrounding the new government's arrival dissipated in less than a month due to a series of immediate challenges.
Analysts also pointed out that in addition to the ongoing riots and potential tax increases, the new UK government faces a multitude of problems. Without clear progress on the economy, the National Health Service, and immigration issues, societal discontent in the UK will be hard to overcome.
The wave of protests in the UK emerged following a stabbing rampage on July 29 when a 17-year-old man armed with a knife broke into a children's dance class in Southport, northwest England, killing three children aged 6 to 9 and injuring at least eight others. The incident shocked the society of England.
According to Reuters, hundreds of anti-immigration protesters became embroiled in riots after false information quickly spread on social media claiming that the knife-wielding attacker was a radical Muslim immigrant. Although British police stated that the 17-year-old suspect, Axel Rudakubana, was born in the UK, protests by anti-immigrant demonstrators continued, escalating into violence, arson, and looting.
In Southport, hundreds of people took to the streets to protest, clashing with police who came to maintain order. Protesters threw Molotov cocktails and bricks at the police, inflicting injuries on 39 officers.
In London, violent riots occurred near 10 Downing Street, the British prime minister's official residence. On the evening of July 31, thousands of protesters held a demonstration near Downing Street, chanting slogans like "We want to take our country back" and "Ban migrant boats." Some protesters knocked down police barricades, and threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the Prime Minister’s residence and the Winston Churchill statue, leading to fierce clashes with the police. More than 100 protesters were arrested.
During the Sunderland protests, a police building was looted and adjacent buildings were set on fire.
In Belfast, protesters smashed the windows of a café outside a mosque and threw bricks at reporters.
In Liverpool, about 1,000 anti-immigration protesters clashed with counter-protesters, with some shouting hate speech.
Facing this series of emergencies, the new British government has shown a tough stance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, stating that protesters were exploiting social grief to create unrest. He emphasized that the government would fully support the police in their fight against extremists who seek to spread hate.
"I guarantee you that you will regret taking part in this disorder. Whether directly or those whipping up these actions online,and then running away themselves," Starmer said in a televised address.
The British Prime Minister stressed that there was "no justification" for what he called "far-right thuggery" and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated that anyone involved in criminal disorder and violence would pay a price and that communities must feel safe. The Sunday Express quoted Cooper as saying that she was preparing to call in the army if rioting continues, because of concerns that the police forces could become overwhelmed and exhausted.
At the same time, British police promised to arrest and prosecute criminals swiftly, assuring that the UK has enough prison space to house offenders.
The Daily Telegraph stated on the 4th that no matter the excuses, violent riots are unacceptable. Amid the nationwide turmoil, however, Starmer needs to consider deeper issues. Rising numbers of migrants, failure to control immigration, inconsistent enforcement measures, and different opinions over "diversity and inclusion" are making more and more Britons uneasy. Illegal acts of violence must be resolutely stopped and dealt with, but fundamental issues also need to be resolved.
According to Al Jazeera, one of the issues overlooked in the previous British parliamentary elections was the rise of the far right. The far-right, represented by Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, has been relentlessly inciting claims that Britain is being stolen by foreign immigrants. Farage recently posted on social media X that in the major cities of London, Manchester, and Birmingham, the "white" population no longer constitutes the majority. This claim, however, is entirely false.
Pakistan's "The Nation" reported on the 4th that Britain, which prides itself as a model of Western civilized values, is now in such chaos, with scenes reminiscent of fragile developing countries. Recently, anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiments have surfaced in the UK, with parts of the country descending into violent battlefields, terrorizing the Muslim community. The UK has had a disastrous "Brexit" and now faces a cost-of-living crisis. If far-right xenophobia is allowed to take root, British society risks fracturing and falling into bitter infighting.
Deep Throat
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