Andy Burnham has been warned that Britain risks becoming like France, following a wave of violence that has swept through major cities around the country.
17 people have been taken into custody after the town hall in Limoges was set on fire over the weekend, causing its 140-year-old tower to collapse. It is estimated that around 3,000 businesses were also damaged or looted during the riots.
Cost of living and public services spark unrest
The cost of living and struggling public services has led demonstrators to the streets in France, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for "calm and order" after the riots escalated over the weekend.
TalkTV presenter Jeremy Kyle claimed that Macron avoided mentioning "the one thing" that has caused Europe the biggest problem, which he believes is immigration. He argued it will "destroy" Macron in France, adding: "Our politicians still don't seem to get it. Andy Burnham is still coming out with, 'I still want to join the EU.'"
Former detective backs immigration concerns
Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley agreed, saying that immigration needs to be "gripped" and the government needs to take control of money "going to the undeserving".
Jeremy highlighted the fact that France is burning, and argued the government would not be able to cope if the same thing was to happen in the UK.
"The problem is that people's trust in the whole process is waning. France is burning and we've not got an army. We've not got anything at all. We're lacking in police on the streets, we've got high taxation. We just bend over backwards spending billions every year on foreign aid when we've got no money ourselves," he fumed.
Peter agreed: "Trust is so important and we are headed long into a low trust society. If you want to know what happens in low trust societies, have a look across the English Channel, because that's what happens. This weekend, I was told through a police source that if the same thing was to happen in the UK, British police could not cope."
Curfews introduced in French cities
It comes after France's prime minister called on local authorities to implement partial curfews following the violent protests around the country.
Sebastien Lecornu said the "ultra-left" was behind the unrest in several cities, including Marseille. Speaking after a meeting, Lecornu said that regional governments in France could implement "partial curfews".
"The prefects will discuss this with the mayors and their local chambers of commerce and industry," he said. Meanwhile, public gatherings in Marseille are banned from 12pm to 8pm today, Monday, 19 October.
"There will be some areas that will be under curfew that are to do with public transport connections, symbolic, emblematic places as well," Lecornu added.
