I have been going to anti-Racist demos since my school days during the seventies and this must be the first time both the Police and mainstream media have welcomed our actions in light of the threat posed by the far-right threat to London last Wednesday night. 

Now over the years l have had my disagreements with  Police Commissioner Mark Rowley but l totally agree with the statements he made on BBC Radio 4 the following morning “… l think the show of force from the police and frankly the show of unity from communities together defeated the challenges that we’ve seen.”  It’s not often you get the Met Chief praising Londoner’s show of unity. 

Much more disturbing has been Elon Musk and parliamentarians fanning the flames with misinformation. How ever dangerous the circumstances were, we were not on the point of a civil war that is for sure. 

What is clear is that the far right bottled it when communities and the police get together and read the situation well. But let us not be complacent as this is an ever present threat easily fanned by outside forces.  And let us not forget the victims of Southport. 

Letter published in Westminster Extra https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/sir-mark-was-correct-about-the-police-show-of-force