'Two-tier Keir!' Starmer accused of being 'blind' to 'sectarian gangs' as top Tory hailed for leadership amid 'appalling' riots

Riots erupted after three young girls were fatally stabbed in Southport on July 29.

However, unrest spread across the country as misinformation about the incident ran rife.

Starmer responded to the "far-right thuggery" immediately, later preparing a "standing army" and offering emergency security to mosques.

He said: "Those who have participated in this violence will face the full force of the law."

More than 400 rioters have so far been arrested and dozens of police officers were left injured, with balaclava-cladded rioters even hurling bricks and fire extinguishers at officers.

However, the Prime Minister is being accused of overlooking the role of so-called "sectarian gangs" in places such as Blackburn, Birmingham and Bolton.

Footage from Birmingham showed a group of predominantly Muslim men, some of whom were armed with offensive weapons, intimidating journalists near Bordesley Green and pub-goers crammed inside the Clumsy Swan.

Sean McDonagh, 51, was punched and kicked outside the pub as the group gathered amid speculation a rival rally was scheduled to take place.

Staff at the Clumsy Swan were forced to barricade punters inside and in a separate incident a police liaison officer pleaded with protesters to place weapons at a local mosque.

Assistant manager Linda Fogarty told GB News: "It was scary, I've got kids in there. It was karaoke. There was children in there, stuff in there, everything. It was really scary."

West Midlands Police confirmed a violent disorder investigation is now underway, with a 46-year-old man separately being arrested for brandishing an offensive weapon.

The Prime Minister is being urged to condemn "sectarian gangs" in an attempt to restore order going forward.

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A Conservative insider with knowledge of the workings of the Home Office told GB News: "Two-tier Keir is either blind to the sectarian gangs or deliberately ignoring them under the false pretence of 'community relations'.

"Of course, the far-right are the protagonists but Sir Keir can't keep pretending they are the only violent actors if he wants to restore order and heal the country's divisions."

However, Home Office Minister Jess Phillips was accused of justifying the behaviour of masked thugs after she appeared to defend those gathering in Bordesley Green.

She said: "These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them.

"This misinformation was spread entirely to create this content."

Phillips later conceded all people "committing criminality should face the law" but still stressed the need to understand why hundreds of masked men were congregating in the area.

Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick yesterday opted to take a different approach after releasing a clip condemning violence by both "sectarian gangs" and the "far-right".

Jenrick, who is looking to build momentum ahead of the first ballot of Tory MPs on September 4, said: "We saw what happened next. Vigils turned into protests.

"Protests turned into disorder and disorder turned into riots. The far-right who attacked a mosque are a disgrace.

"The thugs attacking police officers are a disgrace. The arsonists who set fire to a hotel with people inside are a disgrace.

"The racists attacking black or Asian Britons are a disgrace and the sectarian gangs marching through towns, waving weapons and in some cases attacking white Britons are a disgrace.

"None of this is who we are. We must show no squeamishness or selectivity. All violence must be called out."

The Newark MP's intervention appears to have been well-received by many Conservative colleagues.

"Finally some leadership from a politician," a Tory MP told GB News.

"Robert has said what everyone in the country can see: The far-right are appalling and so are the sectarian gangs."

GB News understands Jenrick was looking to call out the political system rather than join the "two-tier policing" pile on.

Tory leadership hopefuls have so far steered clear of criticising the police.

Speaking to GB News yesterday, former Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "We have to also ensure that the police have the tools, the resources, the capability, the skills to be doing this."

However, directly addressing footage of no police officers dealing with gangs gathered in Birmingham, the Witham MP added: "What we saw last night was outrageous and unacceptable.

"That was criminality and violence. But what was missing was the police."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been clear that he believes the latest demonstrations display a level of "two-tier policing".

In a letter released earlier this week, Farage said: "Ever since the soft-policing of the Black Lives Matter protests, the impression of two-tier policing has become widespread.

"The Prime Minister's faltering attempts to address the current crisis have only added to that sense of injustice."

Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley appeared frustrated with questions about "two-tier policing", opting to throw part of a journalist's microphone on the floor.

Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley claimed Rowley's actions were "petulant", adding: "Did he commit the offence of criminal damage?"

More questions were raised last night after West Midlands Police's Superintendent Emlyn Richards claimed the limited police presence in Birmingham came after officers met with local community leaders.

He said: "We have really strong business and community relations and because we were aware, through intelligence, that there was a potential protest through that misinformation yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with community leaders, business leaders, prior to that event to understand the style of policing that we needed to deliver."

Responding to Richards' comments, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice raged: “Police boss admitting they enabled and were complicit in letting marauding masked mob control Birmingham streets.

"Utterly shameful. Two tier politics. Two tier policing. Two tier Keir.”

Rowley condemned the slur against police officers, adding: "It's complete nonsense. We operate independently under the law without fear or favour.

"They are putting them at risk by suggesting that any of those officers are going out with, as with any intent, other than to operate without fear or favour in protecting communities."

Despite Starmer's firm language on rioters, police look likely to face yet more disorder with violence expected to continue over the coming days.

The Prime Minister said on Monday: "There is no two-tier policing, there is policing without fear or favour, exactly as it should be, exactly what I would expect and require.

"So that is a non-issue. The focus here is not on the apparent motivation of anybody involved in this.

"This is not protest, this is violence. It is violence on our streets, being inflicted and targeted on communities and we're not going to tolerate that in this country."