Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over his failure to take action to block pro-Palestine protests which risk hijacking Remembrance weekend.
The Conservative leader was branded "gutless" by Nigel Farage after failing to ban demonstrations for the weekend, while others urged him to "grow some gonads" and even compared him to Britain's appeasing war-time Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also appeared to demand action from the Government, stressing that he did not have the authority to ban protests.
There are fears a march demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s attacks on Gaza could disrupt Armistice Day's two-minute silence commemorating the war dead and the daytime and evening Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, with the latter performance usually attended by royals.
The group organising the demonstration have expressed their hope of getting a million people to march through central London, but have said they do not intend to protest near the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
This afternoon Sunak said holding a pro-Palestine protest on Armistice Day would be “provocative and disrespectful”.
He added there was a "clear and present risk that the Cenotaph and other war memorials could be desecrated, something that would be an affront to the British public and the values we stand for".
"The right to remember, in peace and dignity, those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for those freedoms must be protected.
"I have asked the Home Secretary (Suella Braverman) to support the Met Police in doing everything necessary to protect the sanctity of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday."
The Prime Minister was criticised for failing to be strong enough in his condemnation, with many demanding he go further and outright ban the protest.
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GB News presenter and former MEP Nigel Farage said: "Our Prime Minister should simply say that we will block the pro-Palestine rally from taking place on Armistice Day.
"But he won't because he is gutless."
In an apparent comparison to Neville Chamberlain, Ukip leader Neil Hamilton added: "When will Neville Sunak grow some gonads?"
Meanwhile conservative commentator and former MEP Patrick O'Flynn sarcastically said: "I reckon he should ask someone with some power to do something about it.
"Maybe track down the person who is running the country, or something?"
Protesters engulfed the station in London's Liverpool Street
GB NEWSLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan said that it was incredibly important” that demonstrators understand the importance of Remembrance events and the Met Police was speaking to protest organisers to “make sure they stay away from the Cenotaph”.
He added: "The only person in the country that can ban marches is the Home Secretary."
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that there was an "obvious risk of serious public disorder, violence, and damage" if the demonstration went ahead as planned.
The Met Police, which will be responsible for on-the-day policing of the demonstration, could ask the Home Secretary for temporary powers to ban protests from happening in certain areas of London, but only if it believes there is a risk of “serious public disorder”.
The Met has vowed to use all its powers to stop the disruption of commemorations and said officers will be deployed across the capital that weekend as part of a “significant policing and security operation”.
It continued: “We’re absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of anyone attending commemorative events.”
