Starmer and Yvette Cooper face first major test as riots threaten to spiral out of control

New PM Keir Starmer and his Home Secretary Yvette Cooper face a daunting task (Picture: John Keeble/Getty Images)

In the weeks ahead of the General Election last month, Labour spoke a lot about the big challenges they would face if they won: tight public finances, crowded prisons, the high cost of living.

But there was one challenge that was barely mentioned – the volatility of British society in general, particularly in the cities.

A disaffection with politics was clear in the result of the election, where the combined Labour and Conservative vote share was the lowest since 1918.

Beyond the statistics, this was visible in the election of several pro-Gaza independent MPs and anti-establishment figures like Nigel Farage.

And now, a combination of roasting weather and Monday’s horrifying stabbing attack in Southport has pushed unrest onto the streets.

Less than a month after the public went to the polls, new PM Sir Keir Starmer and his Home Secretary Yvette Cooper are facing a major test in containing the riots before they spiral out of control.

Both began the week by expressing their anguish over protesters who seemed more interested in destruction than giving a traumatised town space to mourn the deaths of three young girls.

The prime minister wrote on social media site X: ‘The people of Southport are reeling after the horror inflicted on them yesterday.’

Prime Minister Keir Starmer placed a wreath at the scene of the tragedy on Tuesday (Picture: James Speakman/PA Wire)

He added: ‘Those who have hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery have insulted the community as it grieves.

‘They will feel the full force of the law.’

Similar language was used by Cooper, who told broadcasters she saw the community ‘coming together’ after the attacks and praised the ‘heroism’ of the police.

She then said: ‘That is why it is so appalling to now see those same police facing violent attacks from thugs on the streets who have no respect for a grieving community.’

Both politicians visited Southport to lay flower tributes to the victims, and on Thursday afternoon, Starmer held a emergency meeting of senior police officers in Downing Street to discuss how they will attempt to stem the violence.

In a press conference afterwards, he said the response would be coordinated nationally to prevent far-right agitators from being able to travel freely around the country.

The PM’s words also contained echoes of a statement given by Lord David Cameron during the 2011 riots around England, perhaps the clearest parallel to today’s situation.

Then-Prime Minister David Cameron at the scene of a riot in Croydon, south London, in August 2011 (Picture: Reuters)

He told the people behind the disorder: ‘You will feel the full force of the law.

‘And if you are old enough to commit these crimes, you are old enough to face the punishment.’

By the time Cameron had returned from a holiday in Tuscany, chaired two Cobra meetings and recalled parliament, the riots in English cities had begun to fizzle out.

But five people were dead, more than 200 injured and more than 3,000 arrested.

Starmer – who was Director of Public Prosecutions in August 2011, and therefore in charge of delivering justice to those responsible for the violence – will be determined to ensure the current unrest never reaches that stage.

But even if it is stamped out for the moment, the root causes of the discontent will be no quick fix.

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