Priti Patel gives backing to new law protecting war memorials as she blasts protest 'thugs' and 'hooligans'

Cat Neilan
·2 min read
The Cenotaph was one of many monuments targeted during nationwide protests this weekend
The Cenotaph was one of many monuments targeted during nationwide protests this weekend

The Home Secretary has said she "completely supports" calls for a new law to make it easier to prosecute people who damage war memorials, after condemning perpetrators as "hooligans" and "thugs".

Some 200 Black Lives Matter protests took place across the country over the weekend, attended by more than 137,500 people, prompted by the killing in US police custody of George Floyd.

Conservative MP Jonathan Gullis told Priti Patel his Stoke-on-Trent constituents had been "outraged" at the Cenotaph graffiti and attempts to burn the Union flag, asking the Cabinet minister if she would introduce a Desecration of War Memorials Bill.

Ms Patel told him: "I completely support the sentiment and the point [Mr Gullis] has just made."

Earlier today Number 10 attacked the toppling of slave trader Edward Colston's statue in Bristol as an "act of criminal damage".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Boris Johnson "absolutely understands the strength of feeling" with regards to the statue, but insisted people should follow "democratic routes" to settling such matters.

He added: "People can campaign for the removal of a statue but what happened yesterday was a criminal act and when the criminal law is broken that is unacceptable and the police will want to hold to account those responsible."

The spokesman added: "The PM absolutely understands the strength of feeling, but in this country we settle our differences democratically and if people wanted the removal of the statue there are democratic routes which can be followed."

Read all the day's updates below.