UK politics - live: Michael Gove accused of ‘witch-hunt’ as he vows ‘pro-Palestinian marchers will pay’

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'Beat the poison!' Michael Gove says government is 'clear-eyed' about threat of extremism

Michael Gove has been accused of a ‘witch hunt’ after saying he wanted pro-Palestinian marchers to pay for the massive weekly protests.

The secretary of state for levelling up labelled pro-Palestine university encampments as ‘antisemitism repurposed for the Instagram age’ and he accused activists of hostility towards Jewish students.

In a speech on Tuesday, Mr Gove also accused organisers of not doing enough to stop some demonstrators spreading anti-Jewish messages, which he claims, included chants calling for the “annihilation of Israel”. His remarks have sparked furore among organisations supporting Palestinians in Gaza, who have been holding huge protests in London every weekend since the 7 October Hamas attacks.

His speech came ahead of the publication of the Lord Walney review into political violence, which recommended government tighten laws to ban Gaza protests taking place on certain days as well as calling for powers to help businesses claim damages from protest organisers.

But on the same day, the High Court ruled the Home Office had acted unlawfully when it implemented regulations to lower the threshold for police intervening in protests.

Key Points

• Activists slam Michael Gove for antisemitism accusations
• Palestine Solidarity Campaign hit out at Gove
• Home Office acted unlawfully over anti-protest law
• Lord Walney report to crack down on protests

[21 May 2024 07:54 · Salma Ouaguira]

Rishi Sunak and Austrian chancellor last night discussed, dogs?

In their initial meeting last night, Karl Nehammer’s Bavarian mountain hound sat in the chair used by Rishi Sunak the day before.

Mr Nehammer posted a cheeky picture on Instagram featuring his dog Fanny in his office.

“For what occasion is Fanny rehearsing here?” the translated caption read, accompanied by a Union Jack emoji.

Mr Nehammer also wrote about the need for “asylum procedures outside the EU” to address migration pressures faced by the continent, adding: “For me it is clear: Europe needs a completely new asylum system.”

[21 May 2024 07:46 · Salma Ouaguira]

Good morning and welcome back to the Indy Politics Blog

Here’s the stories to keep an eye on this morning:

• Prime minister Rishi Sunak is in Vienna today to meet Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to discuss illegal migration.

• Leveling up secretary Michael Gove will slam organisers for pro-Palestinian marches and condemn rise in antisemitism. 

Elsewhere...

• Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to give briefing on UK economy at the International Monetary Fund.

• Angela Rayner to deliver keynote speech at the UKs Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum outlining Labour’s plans for New Towns.

[21 May 2024 07:37 · Salma Ouaguira]

Rishi Sunak is in Austria

The prime minister landed yesterday night in Vienna to meet Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In an attempt to promote his controversial Rwanda plan, Mr Sunak will discuss third countries as part of the solution to tackle illegal migration.

UK and Austria previously signed a migration and security agreement to cooperate closely during Suella Braverman’s time at the Home Office.

Austria was the first EU country to sign such a deal while the deportation scheme was still on hold at the Supreme Court.

[21 May 2024 07:23 · Salma Ouaguira]

Rishi Sunak to meet Austrian chancellor for illegal migration talks

The prime minister is set to meet his Austrian counterpart face to face today to discuss illegal migration.

He will try to promote his third-country deportation schemes - such as the government’s Rwanda plan.

Sunak’s visit comes after the government announced the UK will give extra£25m to the National Crime Agency to stop smuggling gangs.

The meeting comes after 15 EU countries signed a letter urging the European Commission to toughen migration policies.

At the time, Mr Sunak said the UK was “leading the charge with partners across the continent to meet the challenges caused by intolerable levels of illegal migration”.

He added: “Our disruption of the cruel trade of criminal gangs, together with our Rwanda scheme, are part of a deterrent to stop illegal migration once and for all.

“It is the British public who should make decisions about who crosses our borders.”

Rishi Sunak is meeting Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Vienna today (PA Wire)

[21 May 2024 06:30 · Sian Elvin]

Angela Rayner agrees with Gove’s speech

Deputy Labour leader and shadow communities secretary Angela Rayner said: “There is no place in Britain for antisemitic hate and those who push this poison should face the full force of the law. We all have a responsibility to condemn this vile hatred and show that it will never be tolerated.

“Michael Gove is right that most people on these marches have been protesting peacefully and lawfully, but we cannot tolerate the hateful minority and the appalling incidents of antisemitism.

“Labour will continue to urge Ministers to reverse the downgrading of recording requirements for non-crime hate incidents, bring forward a new Hate Crime Strategy, and crack down on online extremism.

“Our door will always be open to working together on finding ways of tackling this hate.”

(Getty Images)

[21 May 2024 06:00 · Sian Elvin]

‘Dark heart of their world view’ Gove’s speech blast antisemitism

The communities secretary will say later today: “It’s an ironclad law of history that countries which are descending into darkness are those which are becoming progressively more unsafe for Jewish individuals and the Jewish community, the Spain of the Inquisition, the Vienna of the 1900s, Germany in the 30s, Russia in the last decade.

“It is a parallel law that those countries in which the Jewish community has felt most safe at any time are the countries where freedom is most secure at any time.

“The Netherlands of the 17th century, Britain in the first decades of the last century, America in the second half of that century.

“So when Jewish people are under threat, all our freedoms are threatened. The safety of the Jewish community is the canary in the mine. Growing antisemitism is a fever which weakens the whole body politic.”

He will add: “There is one thing which, increasingly, unites the organisations and individuals which give cause for extremist concern. Antisemitism. It is the common currency of hate.

“It is at the dark heart of their world view. Whether Islamist, far right or hard left.”

(PA)