Sinister wake-up call to the police
The truly appalling breach of security that allowed eco-activists to climb the roof of Rishi Sunak’s family home is a chilling reminder of the IRA statement following the bid to assassinate the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet at the Grand hotel, Brighton, in October 1984: ‘Today we were unlucky, but remember we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always.’
Those responsible for the security of the Prime Minister and other important people in public life should have this sinister statement as the screen display on their mobile phones. Fortunately, on this occasion, no harm came to the Prime Minister nor his family, but this shocking incident sends out a message to enemies of Britain about how lax our security is.
To those who argue this incident is much ado about nothing because the Prime Minister was not at home when the security breach occurred, they should remember that Margaret Thatcher was not resident at the Grand hotel when the IRA planted a bomb, timed to explode during the conservative party conference. This incident should serve as a wake-up call to the security services and police.
PETER HENRICK, Birmingham. IT’S hard to believe the protection of the Prime Minister’s home is not a priority for the security services. Fortunately a terrorist organisation was not aware of the lack of security. Will the gates protecting Downing Street be coming down next?
MARTIN HAVARD, Chulmleigh, Devon. hOW were the protesters able to carry
their equipment plus themselves to Mr Sunak’s mansion on their pushbikes? how much fossil fuel was needed for the manufacture of their banners and ladders? And all credit to the police for helping with the clearing up!
WILLIAM BRUNO, Trowbridge, Wilts.
GReeNPeAce activists shrouded Rishi Sunak’s home in an oily fabric while wearing hi-viz boiler suits, hard hats and using nylon rope and composite ladders. Don’t they realise that most of their kit was manufactured using byproducts of the oil that they despise so much? Perhaps they can explain how it is better for the environment to buy oil from the Middle east and ship it halfway round the world rather than extract it from the North Sea?
HOWARD OWENS, Bedlington, Northumberland.