Politics / MP says recalling parliament would show violence and vandalism seen on streets is ‘not tolerated’
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has confounded the “nihilistic violence and vandalism” seen in towns and cities across the UK in recent days and says recalling parliament would be a signal that such behaviour is not tolerated.
A number of MPs have advocated recalling the UK parliament from its summer break as a result of the disorder.
There have been violent scenes in many towns and cities, mainly in England, after three girls were killed at a dance class in Southport on 29 July.
There were false claims that the suspect, a 17-year-old boy named as Axel Rudakubana who was charged with murder, had arrived in the UK by boat.
This is thought to have partly sparked the disorder and anti-immigration protests seen in recent days, which has resulted in a number of police officers being injured.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer branded the riots as “far-right thuggery”.
Carmichael said he is “worried by what I see on our streets and by the fact that it shows no sign of letting up”.
“There is a world of difference between peaceful protest as a political campaign tool and the nihilistic violence and vandalism that we see on the streets of so many towns and cities,” he added.
“To recall parliament would be a signal that this was not to be tolerated.
“It would also be a challenge to every party now represented in the commons to make it clear that they stand with the police and the communities being blighted in this way and not with those responsible for the chaos.”
Carmichael, who was recently re-elected to serve Orkney and Shetland for the Liberal Democrats, added that there are other issues at play which require “urgent attention”.
“We have seen volatile issues whipped up through misinformation campaigns in recent weeks – principally around the murder of three innocent children in Southport,” he said.
“How we as a society respond to this and what we can do to prevent it from being a feature of our national discourse in the future is something on which all who believe in democracy should be working.”
