It comes after violent protests erupted in cities across France.
Nigel Farage backed the use of the military if the UK ever sees rioting on the scale that began in France over the weekend. Riots erupted on Saturday in France, which saw its worst rioting in years as authorities. At least 2,400 people were arrested after rioters in cities across the country clashed with police that day. Rioters set cars on fire, stormed public buildings and engulfed a historic city hall in flames during nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. On Sunday evening, small groups set fire to bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets, and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities.
Curfews were imposed in several cities in an effort to prevent more chaos, and the French capital Paris returned to calm on Tuesday (October 20) the Associated Press reports. France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, confirmed today that the Government will deploy some military personnel during further protests expected this coming Saturday.
He told the National Assembly that some personnel from the Operation Sentinelle, a group tasked with supporting authorities during major national crises, would be deployed “to replace internal security forces mainly on static guarding duties” so police officers and gendarmes can be freed up to “carry out public-order missions”, EuroNews reports.
Mr Farage, the leader of Reform UK voiced surprise that the military wasn’t made involved sooner, and backed calling up the British military if anything similar started to emerge on Britain’s streets. Speaking to GB News, the Clacton MP said: “The mystery to me is why Macron did not call the army in more quickly, and I hope if we even begin to descend to those levels that we use the military as quickly as possible.”
The Brexit architect also suggested he’s fearful of unrest in Britain too, saying: “There is now such an intolerance, political intolerance, on the new left of British politics, and by the way, elements of the right, too. “We don’t respect democracy anymore, or some people don’t. And they think direct action and violence is acceptable.”
France riots: Moment burning Limoges Town Hall steeple collapses
He referenced riots that took place in London in 2011 and said I’m “genuinely concerned”. However, there’s no evidence to suggest Britain is on the verge of riots or widespread unrest akin to the scenes in France, which has a long history of mass protest.
The country has seen national unrest over various issues in recent years, including the raising of the state pension age from 62 to 64.
In a televised address about the violence seen on French streets, the country’s president Emmanuel Macron said: “Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.”
He also condememned “unrestrained violence” which he said had been committed by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals”.