‘There was racism there’: Keir Starmer slams rioters who took to the streets following Southport child murders and warns of ‘snake oil’ offered by resurgent far-right in Europe

Keir Starmer blasted racist rioters who took to the streets after the Southport child murders today and warned they would not dictate government policy.

The Prime Minister spoke out as the courts continue to hand out hefty prison terms to those arrested three young girls were killed on July 29.

In a BBC interview the PM acknowledged that people have strong views on immigration, but that he was ‘not prepared to tolerate that sort of disorder’.

On Friday a far-right thug who helped set fire to a hotel filled with asylum seekers during a riot in Rotherham was jailed for nine years – the longest prison sentence yet.

Thomas Birley, 27, pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life after he stoked a fire in a bin by an entranceway to the Holiday Inn Express on August 4. 

Sir Keir also said he was concerned by the resurgence of the far-right in Germany and France,  saying they offered ‘the snake oil of the easy answer’.

The Prime Minister spoke out as the courts continue to hand out hefty prison terms to those arrested three young girls were killed on July 29.

In a BBC interview the PM acknowledged that people have strong views on immigration, but that he was ‘not prepared to tolerate that sort of disorder’.

The Prime Minister also said he did not think Britain was a racist country, and pointed to the ‘decent’ people who joined clean-up efforts following August’s unrest.

Hundreds of people have now been through the court system for riot-related offences, after clashing with police and attacking hotels housing asylum seekers, among other actions.

The Prime Minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg there was ‘racism there’ during the unrest in the early weeks of August, adding: ‘Yes I accept that across the country people have strong views about things like immigration.

‘I accept that, but I am not prepared to tolerate that sort of disorder under any circumstances.

‘Nor will I change Government policy one bit as a result of that sort of violence.’

Thomas Birley (pictured), 27, pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life after he stoked a fire in a bin by an entranceway to the Holiday Inn Express near Rotherham on August 4

The actions of Birley – who previously posted on social media ‘I can’t be racist because my wife has two black eyes’ – and his fellow rioters caused those inside the hotel to fear for their lives, and staff were so afraid they barricaded themselves inside a panic room, the court heard. 

The self-described ‘God’s gift to decorating’ has previous convictions including criminal damage, attacking emergency workers and racially aggravated harassment.

Birley, who had also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possessing an offensive weapon, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court by Judge Jeremy Richardson, who said his actions were ‘suffused with racism from beginning to end’.

Sir Keir said he did not think Britain was a ‘racist country’ but one of ‘decent people, tolerant people’.

‘The real Britain was the people who came out the day after in Southport. It was incredible, people came out with their trowels, with their brooms, they cleaned up, they rebuilt.

‘They are the real face of Britain and that is the Britain that I think is essential to reuniting and bringing this country back together.’

Sir Keir shared concerns about the rise of far-right political parties across Europe, pointing to recent victories by Alternative For Germany (AfD) in German regional elections, and the gains by Marine le Pen’s National Rally in the French parliament.

Birley, pictured with the red face covering, threatened officers with a police baton in ‘grotesque’ violence that left staff at the Rotherham hotel fearing for their lives, the court heard

He told the BBC: ‘I am worried about the rise of the far right.

‘I mean, we can see what is happening in Germany with the recent election, see what is happening in France and other countries.

‘I am worried about the far right because it is the snake oil of the easy answer.

‘I am convinced that the answer to it is delivery in Government.’

Elsewhere, the Prime Minister turned his focus across the Atlantic, and told the programme his coming visit to the US on September 13 would be focused on dealing with the ‘ever-more pressing’ situation in Ukraine, as well as the conflict in the Middle East.

Sir Keir said it was ‘wrong’ to claim the US was angry at Britain for its decision to suspend some arms sales to Israel.

The UK announced it would limit the sales of some arms on Monday, citing humanitarian concerns among its legal reasoning.

He added: ‘We have been talking to the US beforehand and afterwards.

‘They are very clear that they have got a different legal system and they understand the decision that we have taken.’

The Prime Minister would not be drawn into offering full-throated support for Kamala Harris’s bid for the presidency in the coming November election, instead claiming he would work with whoever is the victor.

Asked about the vice president’s selection as the Democrat candidate for US president, Sir Keir replied: ‘Of course, it is really good to see the election developing as it is in the US.

‘I have been very clear as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom that I will deal with whoever the American people elect in as their president.’