Far-Left activists have been accused of trying to ignite chaos in Britain following riots in France. Socialists, pro-Palestinian groups and anti-war activists are demanding that youngsters “mobilise” for an International Youth Day of Action.
The anarchy in France started off as student protests before they were hijacked by extreme Left-wing groups and it descended into violence, looting and clashes with police. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned “if we don’t wake up, the carnage in France is our future”.
Organisers' Demands and Advert
Organisers want to force the Government to axe defence spending, encourage support for Palestine and invest more in education and jobs. An advert is being shared among pro-Palestine activists and student groups.
A post circulating on social media says the demonstration will “rise against imperialism, capitalism, authoritarianism and the far right across all our governments internationally”. The event is being advertised for Trafalgar Square on Friday, November 20.
The online poster said: “Following the youth protests internationally, we demand our money be used for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.”
Political Reactions
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The scenes of violence and looting we have seen in France and across Europe are deeply shocking.
“The Conservative Party supports the right to free speech and peaceful protest. However, any attempt by extreme Left-wing groups to replicate this chaos in Britain should be met with the full force of the law. They cannot be allowed to unleash anarchy, riots and chaos here.
“It is concerning that police officer numbers are falling under this Labour Government, with 6,500 fewer frontline officers. As a result, the police are being left without the resources they need to fight crime and protect the public.”
France's Unrest and Response
France is imposing curfews to contain unrest after thugs torched and vandalised buildings and vehicles over the weekend. French prime minister Sebastian Lecornu stopped short of declaring a state of emergency. But he said local leaders should impose partialised lockdowns. And Mr Lecornu warned that Left-wing groups may try to hijack the 2027 election.
“We have an extreme-Left movement that is looking to create disorder, a very deep-seated disorder in the country going right up to the presidential election,” he said. “I think that has been clearly said to us this morning by the intelligence agencies.”
Leaders of the Yellow Vest movement, one of the groups behind the demonstrations, said they would return to the streets next Saturday for “Act II”. France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez conceded police “lost control” of the riots in several cities as the chaos intensified. Masked protesters started fires, attacked public buildings and looted high-end stores across France.
Reform UK’s policing and crime adviser Colin Sutton said: "Britain has already seen what happens when the authorities go soft on organised disorder, so we fully expect the Metropolitan Police to take a firm, no-nonsense approach.
“That means anyone who breaks the law should face the full consequences. Reform UK’s SAFE plan will prioritise the safety of Brits with a massive expansion of stop-and-search police powers, a ban on face coverings and 30,000 more officers on the street.”
