Behind Britain’s Riots: Not Just “Disinformation”

Immigration, double standards, tight-lipped police, and press restrictions

An anti-Israel protest in London. Photo: Alisdare Hickson.

Elon Musk recently posed a public question to Prime Minister Starmer: “Why aren’t all communities protected in Britain?” 

The question gave a global airing to the growing perception that policing in the UK has been selective rather than impartial, with anti-immigration protesters treated more harshly than those blocking streets while advocating against climate change or against Israel.  The issues about rule of law and double standards—and about “disinformation” supposedly fueling some of the riots—have emerged as Starmer’s first crisis. They could also have implications in other countries, including the US, where sometimes violent urban street protests, sometimes based on false premises, have become increasingly common in recent years.