POLL OF THE DAY: Has Keir Starmer inflamed tensions with his speech on Southport? YOUR VERDICT
POLL OF THE DAY: Has Keir Starmer inflamed tensions with his speech on Southport? VOTE NOW
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Keir Starmer has been accused of “not having a clue” after he addressed the nation following the eruption of riots across Britain.
Riots erupted in Southport, London and Hartlepool after three children were stabbed to death on Monday.
At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday afternoon, Starmer announced a national violent disorder programme would be launched across police forces after holding a meeting with police chiefs.
One critic of the announcement was Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
POLL OF THE DAY: Has Keir Starmer inflamed tensions with his speech on Southport? YOUR VERDICT
GB News
In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement, Farage posted a video message on social media, saying: “So the Prime Minister tonight, reacting to what has happened over the course of the last 48 hours, his conclusion? very simple.
“It's all the far right, as if they're causing all of the problems. No, the far right are a reaction to fear, to discomfort, to unease that is out there, shared by tens of millions of people.
“Let me be clear, I don't support street violence, I don't support thuggery in any way at all. But I'm worried not just about the events in Southport, but about societal decline that is happening in our country.
“Law and order, folks, on our streets is breaking down. This Prime Minister hasn't got an earthly clue how to deal with it. We need to start getting tough.”
Michelle Dewberry was also critical of Starmer, fuming “The second that white working-class Britons have the audacity to take to the streets about something that they're passionate about, out comes the 'boom, we're tough on you.”
However, others leapt to the defence of the Prime Minister. One user on X wrote: “I am MASSIVELY proud of my Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer today.
“That speech he gave this afternoon was quite brilliant. Finally, a leader who is unafraid to tackle these far-right thugs head-on - including the owner of this platform. And I will support him every step of the way.”
Another wrote: “Very powerful speech from @Keir_Starmer on the outrageous scenes we've seen over the last couple of days.”
In the exclusive poll for GB News membership readers, an overwhelming majority (98 per cent) of the 1,222 voters thought Keir Starmer has inflamed tensions with his speech on Southport, while just one per cent thought he didn't. One per cent said they did not know.