Pro-Palestine marches planned for Remembrance Sunday branded 'appalling' by ex-intelligence officer: 'They should be banned!'

West Midlands Police have confirmed they are "aware of the planned demonstration", but have not taken action to ban the protest as their "policing powers do not allow us to cancel" such an event, as it is "happening under free speech".

Criticising the authorities in Birmingham, former Intelligence Officer Philip Ingram MBE hit out at the "appalling" and "demeaning" protests taking place and called on West Midlands Police to "ban" the march.

Reacting to the protests, Ingram fumed: "I can see no logic as to why Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police have allowed this march to go ahead.

"They must have known the controversy it would create, and Remembrance Day is not a political day. It's remembering those that have died in all conflicts around the world, so that we can live in peace so that we don't have to suffer."

Noting how the demonstrations will "take away" attention from the significance of Remembrance Sunday, Ingram stated that they are "trying to focus on political purposes" instead of commemorating those who sacrificed their lives in the war.

Ingram told GB News: "This march, saying it's remembering those Palestinians that were murdered, the main groups that have murdered Palestinians are Hamas and Hezbollah.

"It's appalling, it's demeaning, and taking the solemn nature of Remembrance Day away and trying to focus it on political purposes."

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When asked by host Dawn Neesom if he believes the Labour Government are "too scared" to ban the protests, Ingram agreed, claiming that Labour are "too scared to do anything".

Ingram explained: "I think the current government is scared to do anything. Unless you're putting up a tweet out about something, then nothing's going to happen to you.

"You put a tweet out and your door will be kicked in by heavily armed police officers, and you'll be imprisoned within a few days. But if you carry out protests where you are openly displaying pro-terror organisation, banners, chanting pro-terror organisation chants, then nothing will happen."

Offering further criticism of West Midlands Police and Birmingham Council's failure to ban the protests, Ingram called on the authorities to block the demonstrations and for pro-Palestine groups to "do the polite thing" and march on another day.

Ingram stated: "Why politicise something that is a solemn day, that is remembering those that have given the ultimate sacrifice to allow people to protest.

"Out of sheer politeness, they should have decided to do it on another day, and I've got no problems with that whatsoever. But whenever they applied for permission to protest, I don't understand why Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police are allowing this to go ahead.

"I just don't understand the logic behind it. Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police, they should just ban this."

Police in Ireland say they "respect the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and have no role to permit or authorise gatherings".

GB News also contacted Merseyside Police but received no reply.