Sadiq Khan tells Met to conduct review of coronation policing and explain why Republic activists detained for so long – live

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Peter Mandelson famously said that New Labour was “intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich as long as they pay their taxes”. In his interview with the Labour leader, the BBC’s Chris Mason asked Keir Starmer if that was his view too.

In his reply, Starmer came out with a slightly watered down version of the quote that might be described as vanilla New Labour (which is how some critics see the whole Starmer project). Starmer replied:

I’m very relaxed about people being rich and getting rich.

I know what aspiration is. I came from a working class background and I was able to not only head up the Crown Prosecution Service, but now lead the Labour party.

So my story is one of aspiration and opportunity. I understand that in other people. But I want, obviously everybody to pay their taxes, and I want fairness and I want equality and I want every child to have that opportunity. That’s why it’s one of our five missions.

In his BBC interview Keir Starmer also refused to rule out doing a deal with with Liberal Democrats.

The local election result has renewed speculation that the next general election could result in Labour being the largest party in a hung parliament. In those circumstances Starmer could either govern as a minority party, and trust that the other opposition parties would not unite with the Tories to vote him out of office; negotiate a coalition agreement with a party with enough MPs to create a majority government; or strike a deal, short of a coalition, with another party (or parties) that would allow Labour to pass budgets and key legislation. The Tories did this with the DUP after 2017, and Labour with the Liberals in the 1970s.

Asked if he would deal with the SNP, Starmer repeated his opposition to this. He told the BBC:

No deal with the SNP. And I’ll tell you for why. Because there’s a fundamental disagreement, I will never do a deal with a party that thinks that the separation of the United Kingdom is the way forward and putting a border between Scotland and England.

But when asked if he would do a deal with the Liberal Democrats, Starmer gave a different answer, just saying he would not answer because that was a hypothetical question. He did, though, stress that he was working for a Labour majority.

Keir Starmer has told the BBC that the Metropolitan police should view the mistaken arrest of six anti-monarchy protesters at the coronation as a “learning experience”. In an interview, Chris Mason, the BBC’s political editor, asked if the police were wrong to arrest them. Starmer said the police did need to take action against groups such as Just Stop Oil. But, he went on:

On the other hand, obviously, we need to protect legitimate protests. So it’s a judgment call.

They got some of those judgments wrong as they accepted.

And I think that’s a learning experience for them, that as we go forward, we need to ensure that perhaps there’s better guidance or something.

But Starmer also refused to commit to repealing the Public Order Act, the new legislation that was used to arrest the six republican activists. (See 2.14pm.) He said that the authorities did need powers to deal with groups like Just Stop Oil and he said it was “early days” in terms of assessing how the new act worked.

He also said that, just because a new law was on the statute book, that did not mean the police would have to use it. Case law and guidance could sometimes lead to a “better framework for decision-making”, he said.

Rishi Sunak flew to the south coast and back by helicopter on Tuesday morning in the latest example of the UK prime minister’s fondness for short-distance air travel, Pippa Crerar reports.

Tony Blair, the last Labour leader to win a general election, has urged his party not to be complacent about the challenges it faces if it wants to beat the Conservatives.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Blair said Starmer had “done a pretty good job pulling the Labour party back from where it was”. He went on:

But of course you can’t be complacent about these things at all.

Blair also suggested that Labour needed a more compelling vision for the future. He said:

One of the biggest problems for Britain at the moment is the sense that we don’t have that strong forward momentum behind a plan for the country’s future.

Blair told Bloomberg he expected Labour to set out more detail abut its policy proposals in the coming months to construct a “modern agenda” that would give people “optimism”.

Hilary Benn (Lab) says, given what happened to the six activists from Republic, why should campaigners who liaise in advance with the police about what will and will not be allowed at a protest accept the assurances they are given?

Philp says “in the heat of a live operation” things are not always clear. He suggests other protesters were not being cooperative.

Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy leader, asks why a journalist was among those arrested.

Philp says the Public Order Act includes protections for journalists.

Back in the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, also called for a review of the Public Order Act. He said that would be an example of how democracies are willing to admit when they get things wrong.

In response, Philp did not accept the need for a review of the act.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has written to Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police commissioner, calling for a “lessons learned” review of the policing of protests at the coronation. Here is an excerpt.

Despite the welcome efforts of so many committed officers, it is clear that some of the arrests made have given rise to concerns and, in my oversight role as mayor, I am seeking assurance from you that the issues related to these will be subject to a review and lessons learned. In particular, I would ask that you urgently provide me with further information on:

-The arrests of six members of the “Republic” group, and why the arresting officers did not appear to know or take into account, the liaison Republic had undertaken with Met in advance of the event?

-Why the protest liaison officer was not part of the decision-making process on the arrests or even contacted?

-Why there was not a faster resolution in respect of these arrests following the initial decision to arrest?

-What role the new legislation played in the arrests, and what consideration was given to concerns raised by City Hall that section 2 Public Order Act 2023 “being equipped to lock on” was so broadly drawn, that it could interfere with peaceful protest if not carefully interpreted?

-What liaison took place with Westminster city council after the arrests of the “Night Star” volunteers?

-What briefing was provided to officers who were drafted in from outside of Westminster borough area to ensure they were aware of local partnership arrangements?

In his letter Khan also accepted that “balancing public safety requirements against the fundamental right to peaceful protest is not easy” and he thanked the police for their success in making the coronation a global success.

Tom Hunt (Con) asks for an assurance that there is not a loophole in the Public Order Act to allow slow marching.

Philp says Just Stop Oil have changed their tactics, and are using slow walking. But the police have adapted by applying a cumulative disruption test. As a result, they have been able to clear roads after recent protests within 10 minutes.

Clive Lewis (Lab) says this act is doing what it is meant to do: stopping peaceful protest.

Philp says Lewis is talking “nonsense”.

Michael Fabricant (Con) says he is getting “pretty fed up of the police apologising all the time”. He says the police said they would deal robustly with protesters, and then did just that.

Philp says the Met were apologising for the fact that the six people were not able to join others taking part in the protest.

Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem) says he is amused by Chris Philp’s declaration that the Met apologises to people who were lawfully arrested. (See 3.46pm.)

He calls for post-legislative scrutiny of the Public Order Act.

Sir Desmond Swayne (Con) says there was a misunderstanding. But why did it take 16 hours (the time for which the six were detained) for this to be resolved?

Philp says there was a lot going on that day. He says he does not know why it took so long for the matter to be resolved. But, he says, there are complaints mechanisms in place.

UPDATE: Swayne said:

There’s been a misunderstanding clearly, despite the police doing a brilliant job. That’s why there has been an apology.

But wouldn’t the minister expect that misunderstanding to have been resolved well within the 16 hours for which the six were incarcerated, and surely there should be some questions asked about that?

And Philp said:

Exactly what happened is an operational matter for the police. Clearly on that day … the police had a lot going on in central London.

James Daly (Con) says the Met did a great job. Earlier Michael Ellis (Con) also made the same argument, saying the Conservatives were on the side of the police.

Ellis seemed to have forgotten about Lee Anderson, the Tory deputy chair, who is not a supporter of the Met.