Tory peer slammed after blaming Southport riots on Guardian editors
Plus: Drink drive cop sacked by Merseyside Police
Hello and welcome to the 23rd edition of The Southport Lead.
When rioters threw punches, bricks and flaming objects at a mosque and looters raided, there were a wide range of factors and influences which had led to that point.
This week, a Conservative peer named the editors of The Guardian newspaper as one of two groups who caused the riots. Whatever you think of the publication, it was certainly a surprise to see the editors listed alongside ‘arsonists’ as the two groups at fault. Today’s edition takes a closer look at that claim and includes an unflinching response from Southport MP Patrick Hurley.
Also in today’s edition, we have news of the Merseyside Police officer who has been sacked after drink driving to get to her station. Plus, news of a community event taking place at Southport FC’s Big Help Stadium and the latest headlines from across the town.
Southport riots caused by “Guardian editors and arsonists”
A Conservative peer who said “Guardian editors and arsonists” were responsible for the Southport riots has been invited to the town to hear what people think of his argument.
Lord Sewell of Sanderstead made the claim during a debate at the Oxford Literary Festival, arguing that “liberal elites” had a disregard for white, working classes which helped feed the anger seen in the riots.
The large scale disorder, of a scale not seen in Southport before, broke out the day after Axel Rudabukana murdered three young girls at a Taylor Swift dance class and injured several more. In the hours that followed, false rumours were spread about the killer’s name, background and religion.
In particular, the name Ali Al-Shakati was shared far and wide on social media including X, Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp along with false claims the person involved was a Muslim had recently arrived in a small boat from Syria.
These rumours led to a coordinated attack on Southport’s Mosque, despite it having no connection whatsoever to the attack. As The Lead has previously reported, taxi driver Andrew McIntyre played a key role in whipping up the mob who attacked that evening, having previously failed to do so elsewhere in Merseyside.
When discussing causes of the riots, and those which followed in places including Blackpool, Liverpool and Hartlepool, the peer said: “Those riots came out of [a] combination of two people: Guardian editors and arsonists.”
In comments first published by The Telegraph, he added: “That kind of blinkered attitude, that liberal elite, that loves to go: ‘I like my multiculturalism, I like my dining table conversations’. That kind of stuff, that goes on particularly in north London is fine – but it’s not the same if you live in parts of Liverpool.”
Lord Sewel, who was born in Brixton to Jamaican parents, continued to condemn the riots, which have so far seen more than 1,000 arrests. But, the Telegraph reports, added: “I don’t think white working class people should be blamed for this.”
In 2020, he was appointed by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to chair the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. The following year, his 258 page report concluded that the UK wasn’t institutionally racist but came in for criticism from groups and individuals who felt let down by the headline finding.
Concerns had previously been raised around the time of the appointment on the basis of similar remarks he had earlier made about institutional racism not existing in the UK. Lord Sewell’s run-ins with The Guardian date back to the time of his appointment when the newspaper reported on homophobic remarks he had made in an opinion piece in The Voice newspaper 30 years earlier.
Referencing Justin Fashanu who became the first openly gay footballer and would later take his own life, he wrote: “We heteros are sick and tired of tortured queens playing hide and seek around their closets. Homosexuals are the greatest queer-bashers around. No other group of people are so preoccupied with making their own sexuality look dirty.”
When the remarks were uncovered by The Guardian, he apologised unreservedly. In 2022, he was made a life peer by Mr Johnson.
Speaking to The Southport Lead, Patrick Hurley, the MP for Southport, accused Lord Sewell of using the attacks for culture war purposes but said the town would rise above it.
He said: “We’ve got the wild west of online liars who spend far too much time on social media, radicalised loners who blame other people for their problems, and the conspiracy theorising of once-mainstream figures in the press.
“In that context, it’s disappointing - but not particularly surprising - to see a Conservative member of the House of Lords seek to fan the dying embers of a culture war by blaming the riots in my town on The Guardian newspaper.
“This sort of nonsense serves nobody’s interests, and certainly not the people from the towns and other places that suffered last summer. Jo Cox said we’ve got more in common than divides us, and in Southport what we’ve got in common with other towns is over a decade of economic stagnation and declining living standards, no matter if you’re black, white, young, old, man or woman.
“If Lord Sewell wants to come to Southport to meet with me and learn what the working people of this town really think of his efforts to blame “the liberal elite” for what happened here, he’s welcome any time.”
Drink drive police officer sacked
A Merseyside Police officer was sacked after driving to work while still over the alcohol limit after a night out.
Former PC Jazmin Smith downed prosecco on a night out in Liverpool city centre in November 2023. During the course of the night, she lost her warrant card and phone.
The following day, she decided to drive to Crosby Police Station five hours before she was due to be on shift in a bid to deal with the issue of the lost warrant card. She arrived there at around 11.20am and various witness described her as appearing to be intoxicated.
Two hours later, she took a breathalyser test and was found to be around one-and-a-half times the drink drive limit.
Having heard the result of the test, she is reported to have said: “Why didn't I just
wait and come to work later and then sort my warrant card?”
A misconduct hearing was held in July 2024 and resulted in the officer being sacked but the details have only just been made public.
Unlike criminal courts which must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, misconduct hearings are judged on what is the more probable outcome and Chief Constable Serena Kennedy concluded that is it likely the former officer drove while under the influence of alcohol.
While acknowledging the argument that it was not an “overt or blatant decision” to drink drive akin to when someone drove at the end of a night out, she was content the officer should have used better judgement.
She said: “PC Smith has been a police officer for a number of years, and she will know that as part of Operation Limit we consistently educate about the risk of driving the morning/ hours after drinking alcohol - a risk that she should have considered before driving to Crosby Police Station that morning.
“I note Mr James's submission [on behalf of Ms Smith] that PC Smith's primary concern was the security of Merseyside Police and the need to report her warrant card stolen and that she was doing the right thing.
“This is commendable and PC Smith will know that not only is this part of the Code of Ethics, but also something that I encourage as part of the Leadership and 'Call It Out' campaign.
“But in this case, it should not have been at the expense of her consideration of upholding the law or the safety of other road users.
“The communities of Merseyside should quite rightly be able to have trust and confidence that the officers and staff working for Merseyside Police not only uphold the law but also abide by the law.”
Ms Smith was dismissed without notice and banned from service as a police officer again.
Family fun day coming to Southport FC
A family fun day involving a tournament of emergency service workers will take place next month.
The Emergency Services Day is being hosted at Southport FC’s Big Help Stadium and will raise funds Southport FC Foundation, which supports various events within our community.
Families attending the event will be able to enjoy bouncy castles, ice cream, special character guests, face painting, grassroots matches, and market stalls hosted by local businesses.
The event will take place from 9am-4pm on Sunday, May 11 with all money raised on the day going to the good causes. The event will be hosted by Southport Comedy Festival organiser Brendan Riley and Southport FC’s catering and bar facilities will be open throughout.
The Liverpool FC Foundation will be opening the event at 9am with football development and activities on the pitch for all children in attendance.
News in headlines
Southport Hospital wins approval for A&E extension to make a ‘more efficient environment’ for patients and staff (Stand Up For Southport)
Judge slams uncle and nephew's 'sickening, unprovoked' two-on-one attack (Echo)
Former notorious armed robber died after he 'lost control' of his powerful Kawasaki motorbike (Manchester Evening News)
Work under way to create stunning new Nazar Turkish restaurant on Lord Street in Southport (Stand Up For Southport)
Thanks for reading this mid-week edition of The Southport Lead, I’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday morning. In the meantime if there’s anything you think I should be looking into then drop me a line southport@thelead.uk
Have a great rest of the week and if you’re in a position to support this newsletter then please consider a paid subscription.
Jamie & The Southport Lead team