Reaction to Pro-Palestinian Victory in Rochdale By-elections
His speech, according to the BBC, was «hastily prepared» and was a reaction to the victory of pro-Palestinian candidate George Galloway in the by-elections for the Rochdale constituency parliament.
Concerns Over Extremist Crimes
From the podium of his office on Downing Street, Sunak stated that the United Kingdom is facing an extraordinary rise in crimes on extremist grounds. «Democracy is under threat from forces seeking to divide us,» Sunak warned.
Stand Against Hatred Fueled by the Middle East Conflict
The Prime Minister emphasized the unacceptable nature of the hatred fueled by the war in the Middle East: «No one has the right to scare children from a Jewish school or insult Muslim women for the actions of a terrorist group they have no affiliation with.» The politician also announced that the police will tighten security during protests.
Response from Political Leaders
The opposition in the form of Labour Party leader Keir Starmer supported the Prime Minister’s rhetoric calling for unity and condemning scare tactics. At the same time, other political forces criticized Sunak, arguing that it is the Conservatives who «have sown the seeds of discord that we are now reaping.»
Predictions for 2024 Elections
Earlier reports in the media suggested that Sunak’s party is facing defeat in the 2024 elections. Labour could secure 385 seats in parliament, while the Conservatives will only gather 169.
