MP Roger Gale calls for armed forces if riots can't be stopped
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by Joe
Walker
joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk
Bay MP Roger Gale says armed forces should be
called in if riots across London and other parts of the
country can't be brought under control.
The Conservative backbencher was speaking
after Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to recall
parliament on Thursday in the wake of three nights of shocking
violence and destruction.
He said: “The robust line taken by the Home
Secretary and by the Prime Minister upon his return to the United
Kingdom this morning indicate, I think, how very seriously the
authorities are taking these matters.
"I would hope and expect that every measure –
up to and including the use of water cannon and, if necessary, the
armed forces – is deployed to protect people and property from
further injury and damage.
“It is absolutely right that parliament should have the
opportunity to hear from the Prime Minister and to question the
action that is being taken and the facilities that are being made
available to enforce the law, to restore order and to bring to
conviction and sentence those that are responsible.”
Mr Gale also hit out at media commentators
who have tried to blame the riots on government
cuts.
He said: “In expressing sympathy with those
that have suffered injury and loss and damage I think that we have
also to condemn those – including some media commentators – who
have sought to make political capital out of these riots and to
somehow excuse the perpetrators as the victims of ‘cuts’ or
‘deprivation’.”
“What we have all seen reported on television
is straightforward vandalism, theft, criminality and brute violence
and it cannot be excused or apologised for in any way at all.
“In paying tribute to the constabulary, who
have certainly been stretched to the limit by unpredicted and
unanticipated events over the last 48 hours, we also have to call
upon the decent people of every community in the country to deny
any comfort, protection or safe-haven to anyone at all who has
participated in, or is planning to participate in, further
riots.”
Tuesday, August 09 2011
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