BASINGSTOKE'S MP has called for protestors taking part in 'violent riots' to be 'unequivocally condemned'.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday, August 4, Labour politician Luke Murphy said that the Prime Minister was 'right' to describe the 'violent riots as far-right thuggery'.

He added: "Those involved must and will feel the full force of the law. There is no justification for these violent acts - none.

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"Keir is correct that all right-minded people should be condemning not excusing it."

Head of the Hampshire Independents party, and Basingstoke businessman, Alan Stone, responded to Mr Murphy's comments, saying he 'can't keep ignoring the underlying problems'.

"People voted UKIP then for Brexit and then for Boris Johnson's Conservatives. They are now trusting Labour. Do something positive about the concerns or start preparing for a real far-right uprising," warned Mr Stone.

The Labour MP replied to the comments, saying: "There is no excuse or justifiable motivation for setting fire and attacking places that people live or where they worship, targeting people because of the colour of their skin, or violently assaulting police officers.

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"They should be unequivocally condemned."

The MP's comments come during a wave of disorder across the UK with hundreds of people taking to the streets, including in Hampshire, following a stabbing attack in Southport last week in which three children attending a dance class were killed. 

PM Keir Starmer said in a statement: "I utterly condemn the far-right thuggery we've seen this weekend," telling those involved that they 'will regret taking part in this'.

He added: "This is not a protest, it is organised, violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online."