Polanski said police’shouldn’t be above scrutiny’ in response to Golders Green1 day agoRichard WheelerPolitical reporterZack Polanski said people in public service’shouldn’t be above scrutiny’ after The London Assembly member said that social media was not the right place to express his concerns. He also said that the open letter from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner was not the best forum. Max Wilkinson of the Liberal Democrats, who also responded after the show, said that “Polanski’s comments today proved that he was not apologising in any way for the sentiment he expressed on social media.” “Polanski, who is Jewish, described himself as pro-Palestinian and someone who “cares about Jewish safety”, adding: “There’s no conflict in those positions.” Max Wilkinson, also responding after the show, said: ” “Polanski is Jewish and described himself as pro Palestinian, adding that there was no conflict between those positions. “Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC the government is “not talking about an outright ban” on protest but will take “steps that are appropriate to deal with this problem”.Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for a moratorium on pro-Palestinian marches, saying they are “creating a climate that is normalising hatred towards Jews and I think they need to be stopped”.Pressed on whether she would criminalise use of the phrase “globalise the intifada”, Badenoch said: “If the prime minister has said that this is something he thinks, then I will support him in that, it’s not something I’ve specifically looked at. The term intifada became popular during the Palestinian uprising in 1987 against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Jewish groups have described it as a call to violence against Jewish people. Pro-Palestinian organizations have said that it is a call to peaceful resistance against Israel’s occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In December, the Metropolitan and Greater Manchester Police announced they would adapt their strategy to the slogan following the attack on “Baroness Smith of Llanfaes from Plaid Cymru also opposed banning marches. She said that activities on them which “go beyond the line” should be dealt with by the police. Shirley-Anne Somerville “Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had been scheduled to appear on Laura Kuenssberg’s programme, but pulled out.
