‘Two-Tier’ Justice Or Two-Tier Punditry?

James Bloodworth reports

By 7pm on 30 July 2024, small groups of white men had begun to congregate outside one of Southport’s mosques. Some were wearing hoodies and masks. Chants of “English till I die” and “no surrender” rang out from the terraced backstreets as a police helicopter buzzed overhead.

A few miles down the road, a vigil for the three murdered girls was taking place. There, in a striking contrast, the mood was sombre and serious.

By 7.45pm, things had begun to escalate. Men had started to pelt the mosque with stones and bottles. Riot police arrived and were attacked with projectiles and fireworks. Local shops were broken into and looted. A police van was set on fire. One officer suffered a broken nose.

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From Grief To Grievance

Last summer’s violence across the UK’s towns and cities saw an eruption of racism in some of the country’s most deprived areas. With the Labour Government’s central policy of economic growth on uncertain ground – and a social media-fuelled right in politics and the media ready to take advantage of the underlying conditions that have not been addressed – can Keir Starmer afford to ignore the simmer of discontent? James Bloodworth reports

James Bloodworth

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Last summer, a motley crew of influencers and populists sought to recast the thugs rampaging through towns and cities as a democratic revolt from below. Though they largely failed in this endeavour – a majority of the public displayed little sympathy towards the rioters – it would be naive to bet against further outbreaks of disorder while the material conditions that contributed to the trouble last summer remain unaddressed. James Bloodworth reports.