Labour councillor arrested over 'cut throats' comments at Walthamstow rally

A Labour councillor has been arrested after he was allegedly filmed calling for far-right protesters’ throats to be cut at a rally in Walthamstow, northeast London.

Cllr Ricky Jones, who sits on Dartford Borough Council in Kent, is said to have made the remarks while at an anti-racist demonstration on Wednesday night.

Footage appeared to show the elected representative at the demonstration saying: “They are disgusting Nazi fascists and we need to cut all their throats.”

The remarks were applauded by some of those at the demonstration.

A man aged in his 50s was arrested at an address in southeast London, Metropolitan Police said.

“He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act,” the Met wrote on X, formerly Twitter on Thursday.

“He is in custody at a south London police station.”

UPDATE: Officers have arrested a man aged in his 50s at an address in South East London.

He was held on suspicion of encouraging murder and for an offence under the Public Order Act.

He is in custody at a south London police station. https://t.co/YVuXRStZzd

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 8, 2024

A Labour Party spokesperson earlier told the Standard: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated. The councillor has been suspended from the party.”

The removal of his party status means Cllr Jones will also have the whip removed, and will sit on Dartford Borough Council as an independent.

The comments were criticised by Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage, who reposted them on social media and asked: “This man is a Labour Councillor. Why has #TwoTierKeir not taken action?”

Protesters in Walthamstow, London, on Wednesday (PA Wire)

‘Two tier’ is a reference to an accusation that police are dealing with some protesters more harshly than others.

This has been flatly rejected by Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley.

“We have commentators from either end of the political spectrum who like to throw accusations of bias at the police because we stand in the middle, we operate independently under the law without fear or favour,” he said on Wednesday.

The characterisation has also been rejected by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The Standard has contacted Mr Jones and the Dartford Labour Group for comment.

Dartford Borough Council said it was “unable to comment any further due to an ongoing police investigation”.