Police arrest man after Labour councillor filmed making 'cut throats' threat

A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.

The arrest comes after Labour councillor Ricky Jones was filmed calling for far-Right protesters to have their throats cut.

A statement from the Met said: "Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in south-east London. He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act.

“He is in custody at a south London police station."

Earlier, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage led calls for Mr Jones's arrest after video footage emerged of the Dartford councillor speaking at a Walthamstow counter-demonstration.

In the clip, Mr Jones was seen ranting: “They are disgusting Nazi fascists. And we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all!”

He was cheered by anti-racism protesters, including one woman wearing an Amnesty International jacket.

Mr Farage said the comments should result in the man's arrest and said if he is not, it will be proof of "two-tier policing”.

Mr Jones was promptly sacked by the Labour Party when it became aware of the clip.

A spokesman told the Express: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.”

Mr Jones has also lost the party whip and will now sit as an independent on Dartford council.

The sacked councillor has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Counter-protesters gathered in cities across England last night ahead of further expected far-Right rioting.

Extremists had shared addresses of immigration lawyers and asylum centres, and were told to attack them yesterday.

However, the riots failed to materialise as anti-racism campaigners formed human shields around some of the would-be targets.

Stand Up to Racism posted aerial footage online showing a huge crowd in the town. "This is what a mass movement against the far-Right looks like,” said the campaign group.

Mahmood Faez, from Walthamstow, said: "It fills our hearts. Regardless of race, religion, sexuality, this sends a strong message to racists that they are not wanted and they are not needed here.

"We should be teaching hope, not hatred for another human being."

Reports of an anti-immigrant demonstration prompted the Metropolitan Police to seek a dispersal order, which was granted this afternoon.

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said there was a "three-figure" police presence across the London borough.

Sir Keir Starmer said Wednesday night’s events turned out “much better than was expected”.

The Prime Minister suggested the additional deployment of police officers and the quick sentencing of people involved in disorder helped quell the threat of further violence.

“We were able to demonstrate the criminal justice system working speedily, so yesterday we saw the sentencing of individuals who had been involved in disorder days ago, some of them getting sentences as long as three years," he said.

“That sent a very powerful message."