UK PM cancels holiday amid rising far-right unrest

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has scrapped his planned holiday and instructed police to maintain a heightened state of alert due to the ongoing risk of far-right riots entering a third week.

Starmer, who was set to travel to Europe for a family break, will now remain in Downing Street and work from No. 10 and Chequers as the government seeks to quell the unrest with severe penalties for rioters, Caliber.Az reports via British media.

The decision follows criticism of Starmer for his holiday plans amid escalating violence in England after the tragic killing of three children in Southport. Outrage intensified last week when it was revealed he might proceed with his vacation, with Conservative figures like Robert Jenrick condemning the idea as inappropriate while Britain faced turmoil.

A YouGov poll revealed strong public sentiment against Starmer's holiday, with 70% of voters urging him to remain in the UK and lead the response. In light of this, Downing Street has confirmed that Starmer will now forgo his break, demonstrating his commitment to public service.

The Prime Minister has called for increased vigilance from police forces this weekend, coinciding with the start of the football season, to prevent further disturbances. Starmer made these comments while visiting frontline officers at a Metropolitan Police command centre in Lambeth, emphasizing the need for community safety and security.

In response to the riots, thousands of additional police will be deployed, and counter-protests against racism are planned nationwide. Starmer’s earlier delay in addressing the riots and calling a Cobra meeting has been criticized, but he has since led three emergency meetings, reinforcing the need for an unwavering response. The government hopes that significant jail sentences for the first convicted rioters will deter future unrest.