Rishi Sunak 'dismayed' by Met over 'openly Jewish' remark at pro-Palestinian march

Sign up to the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxReceive our free View from Westminster emailPlease enter an email address valid emailPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to receive an email about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later.{{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak 'appalled' by Metropolitan Police's handling of a pro-Palestinian march during which officers threatened a man with arrest and said he was “openly Jewish”.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister expects Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to “account” for events, which led to calls for the boss to resign of the Met.

Sir Mark was summoned to a meeting with Police Minister Chris Philp this week and is expected to meet Home Secretary James Cleverly in the coming days after the incident sparked anger in within government. But Number 10 did not echo former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's call for the commissioner to resign, with government sources playing down the possibility he could be sacked.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also summoned the commissioner. at a meeting Monday to discuss “community relations” following the outcry over the incident. However, it appears he retains the mayor's confidence.

The row erupted after it was revealed that the head of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA), Gideon Falter, had been threatened arrest near a pro-Palestinian neighborhood. on April 13, a police officer described him as “openly Jewish.”

Another police officer told Mr. Falter that he would be arrested if he did not leave the area because he “ was causing a breach of the peace with all these other people” and his presence was “upsetting”.

The CAA has since called on Sir Mark to resign or be removed from his position.

A government source said: “The Prime Minister has seen the footage and is as appalled as everyone else by the police officer who called Mr Falter “openly Jewish”.

“He expects the Met Commissioner to explain how this happened and what he will do to ensure officers do more to make London's Jewish communities feel safe . »

Gideon Falter speaks with a police officer during the march (Campaign Against Anti-Semitism/PA Wire)

Secretary of the Energy security leader Claire Coutinho told the BBC that she "personally wouldn't go that far" - referring to calls for Sir Mark to resign - "because I haven't had the conversation...