PM tells rioters ‘you will regret it’ as mosques offered emergency support.Meanwhile in Weymouth…

I’m now looking for news of protests in Weymouth (beautiful seaside town in Dorset where I have distant in-laws), Rotherham/Sheffield and Middlesborough. I’m glad to hear from the Dorset Echo that our Prime Minister has his priorities right. 

Keir Starmer vowed rioters would “regret” engaging in “far-right thuggery” after a sixth day of escalating violence in England as the Government announced emergency security for mosques amid the threat of further disorder.

Speaking from Downing Street, Sir Keir suggested that rioters taking to the streets, and those “whipping up this action online and then running away themselves,” would face consequences.

Meanwhile, the Home Office announced mosques would be offered greater protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly tackle the threat of further attacks on places of worship.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said … “Britain is a proud and tolerant country, and nobody should make any excuses for the shameful actions of the hooligans, thugs and extremist groups who have been attacking police officers, looting local shops or attacking people based on the colour of their skin.

“In light of the disgraceful threats and attacks that local mosques have also faced in many communities, the Government is providing rapid additional support through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme, alongside the support from local police forces and we repeat that anyone involved in this disorder and violence will face the full force of the law…”

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said extra lawyers had been drafted in over the weekend and would continue to work round the clock to ensure justice is served. He has directed prosecutors to make immediate charging decisions where key evidence is in place “and they are doing so”, he said.

Meanwhile the Bridport News (another quiet town further down the coast) has this to say about the demonstration in Weymouth. Weymouth and the Isle of Portland is the mooring place for the Bibby Stockholm barge which provides floating accomodation for up to 500 young recently arrived immigrant men. The accomodation is usually deployed for the workers on marine projects, engineers and technicians of off-shore windfarms and similar. The bedrooms (shared) have TV, wi-fi, ensuite facilities, the barge has restaurants, bars, a gymnasium and other amenities. The menu looks good to me and there is a regular bus into town. But many have complained that they are cramped, and don’t like water. 

The anti-immigrant demo is made up of men and women of different ages and even some children. Lots of people are waving flags and there are a few placards. There are many local people among the crowd, and they have stated they have concerns about the Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge.

One woman said: “We don’t want immigrants here, we don’t want the Bibby (Stockholm). We didn’t get a say at all in it (the barge). “I’m not far right, I’m not racist – but I want a system where immigrants are vetted.”

The woman expressed concerns about her safety.

Another woman said: “We are just like everyone else, fed up with the boats coming over all the time. It would be fine if they became part of our society. I have never been to anything like this before but I think things have gone too far now.”

Stand Up to Racism protesters who are staging a counter demo are further along the seafront. The police have formed a line on the seafront together with vans and police dogs to stop the anti-immigrant protesters moving any further – this line extends onto the beach where officers are standing on the sand.

Tensions are high locally due to the Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge at Portland. Stand Up to Racism has previously called on authorities for action to tackle incidents of racism, which some believe has increased, partially through the activities of some individuals and right-wing organisations.

The event is still on-going but looks peaceful and well managed.