Hotel attacks 'not way we do politics' - Rayner

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner visited the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, where a riot took place on Sunday

Throwing missiles and attacking hotels was "not the way we do politics" in this country, the Deputy Prime Minister has said.

Angela Rayner's comments came as she visited the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, near Rotherham, where clean-up efforts were taking place after Sunday's riot.

"Coming on the streets throwing missiles at the police, attacking police, attacking hotels like this one here today is not a legitimate grievance," she said.

"It's not the way we do politics in this country and nobody should be condoning that."

Ms Rayner confirmed more than 140 people had been charged so far in connection with the riots across the UK.

"It's right that our courts deal with that and we've said that we will support the courts and will support the police in carrying out their duties," she added.

"But people need to understand that if you throw missiles, if you attack people, if you incite hatred and violence, whether that's online, or whether you're offline, you will be met with the law because it is unlawful."

Ms Rayner, accompanied by communities minister Jim McMahon and housing minister John Healey, said what happened at the Rotherham hotel was "not our British values"

Ms Rayner said the public in South Yorkshire had been "afraid and scared" by people "shouting racist abuse, shouting abuse and hurling missiles at police" during the weekend's violence.

She condemned the "criminality and thuggish behaviour" that had put "lives at risk".

Moving forward, the Deputy Prime Minister explained the number one priority was to keep people and streets safe.

"The prime minister has set out how we're deploying police and how we're making sure that we're working with social media companies on the online situation as well," she said.

Ms Rayner asked people to "move away" from and not get involved in online material designed to stir up disorder.

"I hope that the public and anyone who sees what is happening online, that they will know that online and offline criminality will be faced with the courts and with the law," she added.

"We have seen what has happened on the streets, like here in Rotherham, that is not our British values."

Several arrests have been made in connection with the violent disorder in Rotherham, with nine people appearing in court.

South Yorkshire Police reported that more than 50 officers, as well as dogs and horses, had been injured in the unrest.

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