As family and friends sat in their grief and shock, following the appalling knife attack in Southport, misinformation metastasised on social media. From fake news websites to perennial conspiracy theorists, a far-Right mob was whipped up, leading to violent disorder in which nearly 40 police officers were injured.
That this lawlessness erupted as mourners gathered for a vigil for the three young girls who were killed on Monday is truly shocking. Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were all fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Monday. Five girls and two adults, who were all critically injured, were still in hospital today.
Yesterday’s violence came just days after a march in central London led by Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Robinson has since fled the country after committing contempt of court relating to a film played at the protest.
Sir Keir Starmer said the rioters in Southport had “hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery” and vowed they would “feel the full force of the law”. He is right and they must. But a broader lesson must be learned. That if we continue to sit by as fake news congeals with social media and extremism from both wings of our politics, ugly and hate-filled incidents like those witnessed last night will be repeated.
Not fit for purpose
For decades, governments have talked a good game on housing, producing ever more ambitious targets. Yet the housing crisis has only worsened. Now, Labour is placing more pressure on local authorities to produce their own plans — or face having them imposed from above.
It comes as the costs of failure continue to rise. Newham has become the latest borough to warn that it is hurtling towards bankruptcy, having overspent by millions on temporary accommodation for homeless people. City-wide, London Councils estimates that one in 50 Londoners is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including at least one homeless child in every London classroom. Clearly the current planning system is not fit for purpose because it does not produce enough new homes where people want to live. Labour ought to leave no stone unturned to fix it.
The water’s lovely
After the seemingly longest spring since records began, London has settled nicely into summer. And so thoughts inevitably turn to where and how to stay cool. Thankfully, the Evening Standard has you covered. From Brockwell Park’s Olympic-length pool to The Serpentine, today’s paper is packed with places to de-robe and dive in.
