PM rejects calls for recall of Parliament

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed calls to recall Parliament to discuss the violent protests taking place across the country.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel, Labour MP Diane Abbott and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are among the politicians urging Sir Keir to cut short the parliamentary recess.

Dame Priti, who is running to be Conservative leader, said there were "many practical things" MPs could do if Parliament was recalled.

But Sir Keir said his focus was on stopping the disorder and making sure the streets were safe.

The prime minister was speaking following an emergency Cobra meetings with ministers and law enforcement representatives.

He said an "army" of specialist police officers were on standby and the criminal justice system would be ramped up to charge those involved in the disorder.

He also emphasised that "criminal law applies online as well as offline". Earlier Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said social media firms were being too slow at removing "criminal material" from their platforms.

The House of Commons stopped sitting last week, but the government can ask the Speaker to recall MPs if there is an event thought to be of national importance

Over the past decade, the House of Commons and Lords have been recalled from recess six times for events including western forces chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and the death of Prince Philip.

Following the 2011 riots in London and other English cities, Parliament was recalled for one day.

Speaking to Times Radio, Dame Priti said politicians needed to "get some kind of grip on this, which is why I am calling for the recall of Parliament right now so that we can actually discuss these issues."

"Local authorities are now under pressure, the police are under pressure to do more effectively, we need to find out what more do they need."

However, other Tory leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly have said they do not back a recall.

Mr Cleverly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a recall was not necessary to ensure MPs were receiving a "clear flow" of information.

"There's nothing that needs to be voted on, there are no additional powers (needed)."

Backing a recall, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said: "This is an extraordinarily grave situation. You've got people trying to burn down hostels where asylum seekers are cowering. You've got people attacking black and Muslim people on the street.

"We need to be able to question ministers on what exactly is being done and we want to speak up for our communities."

Another Labour MP, Dawn Butler, said: "It may be time to recall Parliament. This violence needs to stop."

Reform UK leader and MP Nigel Farage said there needed to be "a more honest debate" about immigration and policing was needed and that a recall of Parliament would be "an appropriate start to this".

Last week, Mr Farage rejected accusations he had "whipped up" rioters by asking whether "the truth is being withheld from us", after police said the Southport attack was not being treated as a terror incident.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the measures taken by the government adding: "People from all backgrounds and all walks of life have come together to condemn these riots and clean up the damage - it is they who truly represent Britain, not the rioters and those who have incited them."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent MP, has written to the home secretary calling for an urgent meeting to "discuss what actions are planned to stamp out this racist terror".

In a joint letter with four other independent MPs Ayoub Khan (MP for Birmingham Perry Barr), Adnan Hussain (Blackburn), Iqbal Mohamed (Dewsbury and Batley) and Shockat Adam (Leicester South), Mr Corbyn urged the government not to "give succour to those seeking to sow hatred and division".

The Green Party said the disorder had been caused by "racism and Islamophobia" and urged the government to "celebrate and defend our Muslim citizens and their place in our diverse society".