Rishi Sunak’s crackdown on ‘disrespectful’ pro-Palestine rally at Cenotaph on Remembrance weekend

Dramatic intervention by London mayor Sadiq Khan who accuses Tories of playing politics over Middle East tragedy

Rishi Sunak has backed a crackdown on what he condemned as “provocative and disrespectful” pro-Palestine marches due to be held on Armistice Day.

As a furious row erupted over the protest plans, the prime minister said the “right to remember, in peace and dignity, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice” had to be protected. Home secretary Suella Braverman claimed it was unacceptable to “desecrate” the day with a “hate march” through London.

But the Labour mayor of London Sadiq Khan accused the government of playing politics over the “terrible tragedy” unfolding in Gaza, after organisers taking to the streets on November 11 said they had no plans to disrupt Remembrance weekend events.