Bristol MPs condemn ‘shameful’ riot
BRISTOL MPs have condemned the “terrifying” and “shameful” scenes of rioters violently clashing with police. Thangam Debbonaire,
right, whose Bristol West constituency covers the city centre, branded the scenes “absolutely unacceptable” and said the genuine protesters had been “betrayed” by a violent minority.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live she said: “It does look like a minority, a very violent, terrifying minority, who have treated our police in absolutely appalling ways.
“There’s been a rise in violence against our emergency services over the last few years which I totally deplore.
“It must also have been terrifying for my constituents who live in the city centre to have had this over several hours last night.
“I’m also really sad, because I know that the vast majority of my constituents want to maintain the right to peaceful protest – peaceful protest, and that’s in times when coronavirus is over and we’re able to do things like that.
“Unfortunately they’ve been betrayed and let down by this very violent minority.”
Bristol West MP Darren Jones,
pictured below centre, has also condemned the violent clashes. He tweeted: “The scenes in Bristol this evening are completely unacceptable.
“You don’t campaign for the right to peaceful protest by setting police vans on fire.”
Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore tweeted: “There is no place or justification for this behaviour in a modern society.
“Bristol is a peaceful and tolerant city – these protestors bring shame on the city.”
Bristol South MP Karin Smyth, below, said she was “proud” that all four city MPs voted against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
She said she felt “overwhelming sadness” after seeing the images from Sunday, which are “not representative of our city”.
The MP added: “What we saw last night was not, ultimately, a democratic protest.
“It was an ugly distortion of one.
“You bring banners and ideas to a peaceful protest; last night, some saw fit to instead bring fireworks.
“And the violent action of some have now all but erased any opportunity to make valid points about the bill.”