THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Many citizens believe that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan apply different standards when dealing with protests and disorder from different groups. This report examines these concerns.
The Accusation
When far-right groups cause trouble, Starmer and Khan speak out loudly and demand harsh punishment. When Pro-Palestinian or Islamist groups cause similar trouble, these leaders stay quiet or make excuses.
Evidence Supporting These Concerns
1. Response to Far-Right Disorder (Summer 2024)
Riots and violence broke out in multiple cities with attacks on police and property damage.
(I)Political Response
Starmer gave multiple urgent speeches and called emergency meetings with police. He promised “swift justice” and “the full force of the law,” appeared on television repeatedly, visited affected areas, and used very strong language about “thugs” and “criminals.”
(II) Legal Response
Fast-track courts were set up and harsh sentences handed down quickly. People were jailed for years for violent disorder, and even social media posts led to prison time.
2. Response to Pro-Palestinian Protests (2024-2025)
Regular large protests have taken place in London with over 700 arrests since Palestine Action was banned. In one day in October 2025, 442 people were arrested. Some protests included violence against police officers and support for a banned terrorist organization.
(I) Political Response
Starmer and Khan made few public statements, and when they did speak they used mild language. They focused on “respecting grief” rather than condemning violence. There were no emergency meetings, television appearances, or visits to affected areas. Condemnation of disorder was limited.
(II) Legal Response
Arrests are happening and some face terrorism charges, but the maximum sentence is only 6 months rather than years. There are no fast-track courts and much less media coverage of prosecutions.
The Pattern People Notice
People observe that Starmer and Khan are loud about far-right problems but quiet about Islamist or Pro-Palestinian problems. They react within hours to far-right issues but take days or don’t respond at all to other issues. They use harsh words for one group but softer words for another group doing similar things. They make no excuses for far-right disorder but sometimes appear to justify or explain away disorder from other groups.
Why This Matters
(I) Loss of Public Trust
When leaders appear to have different rules for different groups, people lose faith in political leadership, the police, the justice system, and the idea of equal treatment under the law.
(II) Political Calculations
Labour depends on Muslim and progressive voters, so being tough on far-right groups has no electoral cost while being tough on Pro-Palestinian groups could lose votes. There are also concerns about being called “Islamophobic” and different media pressure for different groups.
(III) Real-World Impact
This perceived double standard makes some communities feel ignored, creates resentment and division, undermines the rule of law, encourages more extreme behavior from groups who feel protected, and makes moderate citizens angry and frustrated.
(IV) Why People Don’t Believe It
The numbers don’t match what people see with their own eyes. Arrests happen, but the political response is clearly different. Official committees are seen as protecting the establishment. The sentencing is much lighter for some groups. The public messaging tells the real story.
Conclusion
Whether or not actual police enforcement is “two-tier,” the political leadership from Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan clearly is. They speak loudly and act visibly against far-right disorder. They stay quiet and measured about similar disorder from Pro-Palestinian or Islamist groups.
This double standard damages public confidence in equal treatment under the law. It creates the appearance that some groups are protected while others are harshly punished for the same behavior.
When leaders only get angry about violence and disorder from certain groups, people notice. Actions may speak louder than words, but in politics, silence speaks loudest of all.
References
1.https://www.itv.com/news/2025-10-03/pro-palestine-marches-to-go-ahead-despite-pm-and-police-bosses-calls-to-cancel
2.https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-are-mps-turning-a-blind-eye-to-two-tier-policing/
3.https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/08/in-britain-two-tier-policing-and-a-two-tier-judiciary/
4.https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/cps-announces-further-prosecutions-palestine-action-supporters
