Politics latest: Top cop grabs Sky journalist's microphone after PM holds COBRA meeting over riots (2024)

This morning's Politics Hub coverage has been dominated by the political fallout from the weekend's riots.

Here's what you need to know:

• The prime minister has held his first COBRA meeting since taking office, bringing together his cabinet and other leading figures - including police chiefs who are responding to the riots;
• The head of the Metropolitan Police was among those who attended and didn't respond kindly to questions on his way out around accusations of "two-tier policing" when it comes to different kinds of protests;
• Sir Mark Rowley grabbed a Sky journalist's microphone, pulling part of it off and dropping it to the ground;
• The "two-tier policing" claims have come most notably from Nigel Farage, who claimed Black Lives Matter protests had been policed more lightly.

• Sir Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to recall parliament, so MPs can discuss the crisis, including from Mr Farage, Priti Patel, and Diane Abbott;
• Ms Patel and fellow Tories have accused the government of responding too slowly amid the violence, though the former home secretary has dismissed those allegations of "two-tier policing";
• "There is a clear difference between effectively blocking streets or roads being closed, to burning down libraries, hotels, food banks and attacking places of worships," she said;
• The government has also faced calls to deploy the army to help police, though ministers have so far ruled this out;
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said those involved in the riots face a "reckoning", with more arrests and charges to come.

That's all for now - stay with us for more political news and analysis, and check out our dedicated blog on the riots via the link above.

Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police, has left this morning's COBRA meeting in Whitehall.

Shabanah Mahmood, the justice secretary, has also departed.

As he left, Sir Mark grabbed a Sky News journalist's microphone and dropped it to the ground.

The Met Police chief was being asked whether we were "going to see an end to two-tier policing" when it happened.

'Two-tier policing'?

It comes after Reform's Nigel Farage claimed Black Lives Matter protesters were dealt with more favourably by police - a stance which was quickly ridiculed by Tory leadership hopeful Priti Patel.

"There is a clear difference between effectively blocking streets or roads being closed, to burning down libraries, hotels, food banks and attacking places of worships," said the former home secretary.

Our political correspondent Tamara Cohen says Sir Mark had clearly responded "very angrily" to the two-tier policing suggestion.

Sky News has contacted the Met for comment.

A group of five independent MPs have written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to "request an urgent meeting" after the recent riots.

The letter was signed by Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, Iqbal Mohamed, Jeremy Corbyn and Shockat Adam.

They wrote: "When people are under attack for the colour of their skin and their faith, government references to 'understandable fears' send mixed messages and only give succour to those seeking to sow hatred and division."

The added: "We reject any narrative that seeks to blame asylum seekers and immigrant communities for the decades of austerity and the subsequent decline in stable and well paid jobs that has eroded the fabric of once secure communities."

Sir Mark Rowley, the head of the Metropolitan Police, has been seen entering 70 Whitehall as this morning's COBRA meeting is set to be held.

He walked into the building, which is adjacent to Downing Street, within the past half an hour or so alongside two other men.

Priti Patel, the former home secretary, has been calling for parliament to be reconvened since the end of last week.

Today, she has written a letter to various members of the government reiterating these calls.

She addressed her missive to Sir Keir Starmer, as well as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and leader of the House Lucy Powell.

In the letter, she reminds the prime minister that parliament was recalled after the 2011 riots when he was director of public prosecutions.

She wrote: "That gave politicians an opportunity to come together to stand against violence and disorder and to question the then government over the challenges faced, the response to the violence and plans to address issues exposed by those events.

"Recalling parliament now will present the house with an opportunity to once again stand in unity and for members, including in those constituencies affected, to raise their view and seek assurances from the government."

There are growing calls for parliament to be recalled, so MPs can debate the recent unrest.

First off, it's worth noting that parliament is not sitting due to the summer recess - with politicians set to return to Westminster on 2 September.

While this is a time for MPs and their staff to take holidays, they do also continue working in their constituencies.

Technically, the power to interrupt this break lies with the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

However, he can only do so following "representations" from ministers, according to the House of Commons Library.

If an order is made to recall parliament, it usually sits two days from when the announcement made - for example, if the Speaker said today he was planning to recall MPs, they would likely sit on Wednesday.

Currently, there is no ability for MPs outside of government to trigger a recall of parliament.

While the House of Lords has its own set of rules, it usually reconvenes at the same time as the Commons.

The last time the Commons was recalled during a recess was amid the evacuation of Kabul in August 2021.

Other cases include the death of Prince Philip in April 2021, the death of Jo Cox in June 2017, and the riots in August 2011.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to chair a COBRA meeting in just over half an hour.

People are starting to arrive at Downing Street - including chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

With calls growing for parliament to be reconvened, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was asked about the topic on the morning media round.

Speaking to LBC, she said: "That's not what we're doing right now.

"What we're doing right now is keeping in close contact with MPs."

The prime minister needs to issue the recall to parliament, rather than MPs or the Speaker being able to do so.

John Healey, the MP for Wentworth, is at one of the hotels attacked in the riots last night in Rotherham.

He says all of those asylum seekers in the venue have now been moved to places of safety.

Mr Healey is also defence secretary in the government.

He is asked by journalists if the army will get involved in response to the riots.

He says "No".

"South Yorkshire Police were strongly supported by police forces from West Yorkshire, from Cheshire, even the British Transport Police came.

"[They have an] established system of what they call mutual aid, where you've got police forces coordinating together, training with the same public order, street disorder techniques.

"It's the police's responsibility to respond first.

"And currently, they've got the means to do it, and they will make sure that people stay safe."

Diane Abbott, the veteran Labour MP has joined her colleague Dawn Butler to call for parliament to be recalled.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has also called for MPs to be returned to Westminster.