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Shabana Mahmood slams ‘un-British’ pro-Palestine marches

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood gives speech on the future of the probation service at London Probation Headquarters on February 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Whitley-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The country is still reeling from the horrific attack that took place at a Manchester synagogue on Thursday morning. The car and knife attack left two victims dead and three seriously injured in hospital, while the suspect was shot and killed by police. More details have come to light since then: police have said they believe the attacker was Jihad Al-Shamie, a British citizen of Syrian descent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to do ‘everything’ in his power to protect Jewish people in Britain, condemning the ‘horrific’ terror attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also paid her respects to the victims and their families – before, this morning, turning on pro-Palestine protestors. Condemning those who went through with Gaza protests on Thursday despite the terror attack, Mahmood fumed on BBC Breakfast that ‘carrying on in this way does feel un-British’, reiterating: ‘It feels wrong.’ She went on:

It is important to draw a line between what is happening in the Middle East and what is happening at home. I would say to people who are planning to go on a protest is to just take a step back for a minute, and imagine if you had lost a loved one to a terror attack in this country.

The Home Secretary explained why she wouldn’t be able to step in and stop the protests herself. She nodded towards the ‘strong’ powers that protect the freedom to protest – but added that they could be vetoed depending on police advice:

I can take my lead from the police, if they were to tell me there was an inability to respond and to police the protests, then there are powers that are available.

A number of politicians have hit out at the pro-Gaza protests that took place across the country on Thursday evening, with ex-Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw going as far to say that yesterday was ‘one of the most shameful in our country’s history’. Strong stuff…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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