Ann Widdecombe hands Keir Starmer new three-point plan to handle 'terrifying' UK riots

Sir Keir Starmer’s two-tier policing strategy is ‘letting everybody down’ after another night of chaos on the streets of Britain, former shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe has declared.

And the ex-minister also pointed the finger at right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, accusing him of stoking tensions on the basis of false rumours about the background of the suspect in the murders of three young girls in Southport last week.

The accusation that officers are treating different groups of protesters in different ways had been levelled against the government frequently in recent days, and ex-minister Ms Widdecombe said more evidence was provided overnight.

Videos circulating online showed a heavy police presence in Plymouth, where bottles and other projectiles were thrown as tensions between anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters threatened to boil over.

However, other clips in Birmingham showed few officers in evidence as large numbers of Asian men gathered on the streets, apparently prompted by inaccurate rumours of a demonstration by right wing activists in their city. Disturbing footage appears to show one white man outside a pub in Yardley being brutally beaten by facemask-wearing yobs.

Home Office minister and local Labour MP Jess Phillips is under pressure over a tweet suggesting locals had gathered in order to protect their community, a remark Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said amounted to an excuse for subsequent lawlessness.

Ms Widdecombe said: “The narrative at the moment is that it is all the far right, but it’s gone way beyond that.

“When it comes to this government’s response, the question is not what have they done but what haven’t they done?

"There's been an awful lot of rhetoric, but that's about as far as it's gone.

"It's let down the Jewish community very badly, because they are afraid, because of the pro-Palestine stuff.

“And then there is the perfectly lawful immigrant community, who must be terrified by this outbreak of violence. So they've let down everybody. We’re all afraid - this is a scared nation.”

Asked what she would be saying to Sir Keir were she Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Ms Widdecombe, a former Brexit MP who is now a prominent member of Reform UK, said: “The first thing I would say is you've got to convince people that we're going to control unlawful immigration.

"The second thing is, you've got to have serious sentences for people who riot.

"And the third thing is people have got to feel that everybody is policed in the same way, and that it doesn't matter whether it's left wing, right wing, pro-Palestinian, pro-Israel.”

Ms Widdecombe did not just single out the Government for criticism, but also Mr Robinson, currently on holiday in Cyprus, who has kept up a steady stream of controversial posts on X, in some cases spreading inaccurate information.

She said: “He should have been trying to calm people. He may be in Cyprus, but presumably still got access to social media.

"If he had any iota of responsibility, he would be saying, 'this has gone too far, calm down'. As far as I know, he hasn't done that.”

Mr Robinson did in fact tweet a video in which he asked people not to get involved in violence - but he has also shared multiple clips and tweets critics say may have inflamed the situation.

She also had words of criticism for Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who yesterday appeared to snatch a microphone out of the hand of a journalist after being asked whether his approach amounted to two-tier policing.

She said: “I think that he is exhibiting a lack of control in exactly the same way that the rioters are.”

Responding to a post by Reform UK leader Richard Tice show large groups on the streets of Birmingham, Ms Phillips said: "These people came to this location because it has been spread that racists were coming to attack them.”

She subsequently added: "The police have attended all sites of violence tonight and all those perpetrating it will face the consequences no matter who they are. Thanks to all residents who have acted with grace and kindness and have kept people informed so actions could be taken.”

Mr Anderson, urging her to resign, posted: "“You're part of the problem not the solution. A disgusting tweet. What are you scared of? Losing votes?”

In a statement issued yesterday, Sir Mark said: Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “This morning I was part of a positive and constructive COBRA meeting with the Prime Minister about our collective response to hateful behaviour and violent disorder across the country.

“There’s been a story running all day about my exit from the meeting. This is a distraction from the critical events we are dealing with.”

He explained: “It was agreed the Prime Minister would provide an update afterwards and it was not my place to speak publicly. In an effort to move a microphone out of my path I’m sorry that I knocked it to the floor. That was never my intention.

“We remain focused on the critical and urgent matters at hand.”