Extremists put our democracy at risk, warns sombre PM
RISHI Sunak last night urged the public to ‘face down the extremists who would tear us apart’ in the wake of George Galloway’s shock byelection win.
In a dramatic intervention, the Prime Minister ripped up his schedule to address the nation after the rabble- rousing former Labour MP exploited tensions over Gaza to seize victory in the once safe Labour seat of Rochdale.
Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Mr Sunak said it was ‘beyond appalling’ that Rochdale had returned an MP ‘who denies the horror’ of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, who ‘glorifies’ terror group Hezbollah and who was endorsed by the former leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin.
In a sombre appeal to the country, he said: ‘I need to speak to you all this evening because this situation has gone on long enough and demands a response not just from government, but from all of us.’
Warning that ‘democracy itself is a target’, he added: ‘The time has now come for us
all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison. We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart.’
Mr Galloway’s crushing victory was a body blow for Keir Starmer, who was forced to jettison Labour’s candidate in Rochdale after The Mail on Sunday revealed he had been recorded making remarks deemed anti-Semitic.
The humiliated Labour leader yesterday issued a public apology to the people of Rochdale for failing to field an acceptable candidate. A gloating Mr Galloway, leader of the Workers’ Party of Britain, said a ‘ shifting of the tectonic plates’ could see Labour lose millions of votes because of Sir Keir’s fence-sitting on Gaza.
Vowing to exploit Labour divisions over the conflict in the Middle east, he said Sir Keir would ‘pay a high price’ for ‘enabling, encouraging and covering for’ Israel’s military action to root out Hamas terrorists in Gaza. He also took a swipe at Mr Sunak, saying the two main party leaders were ‘two cheeks of the same backside – and they both got well and truly spanked’.
Mr Galloway denies being anti-Semitic but has described the Hamas slaughter of innocountry cent Israelis on October 7 as a ‘concentration camp breakout’. His victory was marred by claims of intimidation and threats by supporters.
Jewish groups reacted to his election with dismay. The Board of Deputies of British Jews described him as a ‘demagogue and conspiracy theorist who has brought the politics of division and hate to every place he has ever stood for Parliament’.
A spokesman added: ‘ His election is a dark day for the Jewish community in this and for British politics in general.’
Mr Sunak suggested his election was another sign that extremists were seeking to exploit tensions over the Gaza conflict to undermine the UK.
He said Britain had built ‘the world’s most successful multiethnic, multi-faith democracy’. But he warned it was being deliberately undermined’, adding: ‘There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart.’
The PM revealed that ministers are also working on a new ‘framework’ to tackle extremism. Foreigners who ‘choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people’ will face deportation. University vice- chancellors will be ordered to ‘stop extremist activity on campus’.
The anti-radicalisation programme Prevent will be beefed up. And government will cut ties and funding with all organisations that give succour to extremist views.
Sir Keir appeared to back Mr Sunak’s intervention, saying: ‘The Prime Minister is right to advocate unity and to condemn the unacceptable and intimidatory behaviour that we have seen.
‘Citizens have a right to go about their business without intimidation and elected representatives should be able to do their jobs.’
‘Shifting the tectonic plates’