Another day, another report of violent disorder. Protests broke out in Labour MP Jess Phillips’ Birmingham constituency on Monday night. Mobs of balaclava’d men ran riot across city, first gathering outside a McDonald’s restaurant before descending on a local pub. One Sky correspondent was intimidated by a masked man on a bike during a live broadcast, while another later attempted to slash the tyres of media vehicles. But instead of criticising the disturbance, Phillips – who is now a Home Office minister – appeared to, um, defend it.
Hitting out at a tweet by Reform’s Richard Tice which labelled ‘all violence, rioting and assault’ as ‘totally unacceptable’, Phillips responded on Twitter:
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. Don’t spread it Mr Tice!
Er, right. Phillips – who came close to losing her seat in the general election to a pro Gaza candidate Jody McIntyre – quickly drew ire for appearing to be suggest some forms of public disorder are more okay than others.
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