Rishi Sunak erupts at Houthi backers in the UK with new warning: 'Glorifying terrorism!'
Rishi Sunak delivered a warning to extremists in Britain who have protested against UK action against the Houthis.
Rishi Sunak condemns UK Houthi supporters
Rishi Sunak has blasted UK supporters of Houthi extremists after thousands marched in London 10 days ago endorsing the shipping attacks.
Up to 200,000 descended on the capital the weekend before last, with chants of "Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around".
Multiple people were arrested by the Met Police on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation.
Speaking in the Commons this lunchtime, the Prime Minister slammed those who are "doing the Houthis' work for them".
He emphasised that there is "no link between our actions of self-defence in the Red Sea and the situation in Israel and Gaza".
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"Those who make that link, do the Houthis work for them. And I want to be clear that those here at home who glorify the Hutus attacks are glorifying terrorism, plain and simple."
He ominously warned: "They will be met with a zero-tolerance approach."
Sir Keir Starmer also rejected arguments that the Houthi attacks are somehow in aid of Gaza and confirmed Labour’s ongoing support for the UK-US targeted strikes.
He also demanded to know whether the Government is considering proscribing the extremist Islamic Revolutionary Gard Corps (IRGC), the Iranian Armed Forces branch.
Sir Keir warned that the Government must use "every tool at our disposal to disrupt IRGC activities, and we must show Iran that it cannot pursue its ends by destabilising the entire region".
He blasted Houthi claims they were trying to help Gaza with the shipping disruption: "These attacks do absolutely nothing for the Palestinian people."
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The chanting for Yemen is all across the demonstration
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) January 13, 2024
"Yemen Yemen make us proud turn another ship around" pic.twitter.com/wQ296sUPif
Despite the Houthi rebels using the slogan "death to Israel" and "curse the Jews", thousands of people in Britain marched to their defence over a week ago.
As well as chants mocking the attacks on vital cargo ships, protestors also demanded the West to "stop bombing Yemen now".
One woman was seen with a sign thanking Yemen for firing missiles at unarmed ships.
Mr Sunak’s update to the Commons today set out the four-point plan being followed by the UK since the launch of its military strikes against the Houthi aggressors.
The plan includes diplomatic efforts; ending the illegal supply of arms to the Houthis; cutting off their financial resources; and continuing to help the people of Yemen with aid.
Mr Sunak said he will announce a new package of sanctions against the Houthis in the coming days.
He also confirmed there will be a general debate on the Government’s strategy towards the extremist group tomorrow, after demands from both Labour and the Lib Dems for MPs to have their say.
Mr Sunak slapped down Green MP Caroline Lucas after she appeared to justify the Houthi attacks due to the ongoing anti-Hamas mission by Israel in Gaza.
Ms Lucas said the only message the bombing was delivering to the region was the UK’s failure to back and end the bombing in Gaza.
The Prime Minister urged Ms Lucas "not to link and conflate these two things… it is the Houthi’s doing that and it’s right was call that out as being wrong".