The Metropolitan Police have been accused of “dark and biased” treatment over the handling of a planned protest in London.
Labour MP Kim Johnson raised concerns in the House of Commons after the force failed to approve a route for a pro-Palestinian march marking Nakba Day on May 16, despite organisers submitting details to the Metropolitan Police in December.
On the same day, a “Unite the Kingdom, Unite the West” rally promoted by Tommy Robinson is due to take place, prompting accusations of unequal treatment by the police.
Ms Johnson told the Commons using Mr Robinson’s real name:
She said: "Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is urging his followers to behave ahead of the Unite the Kingdom march on May 16.
"The organisers of the annual Nakba march, who provided the Met details last December, are still waiting to have their route approved.
"The previous Unite the Kingdom march erupted in unacceptable levels of violence, unlike the hugely popular and peaceful anti-genocide marches.
"The treatment of these two groups by the Met is dark and biased."
Ms Johnson called for a parliamentary debate on the rise of far-right activity.
Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell responded by defending the Metropolitan Police’s approach.
He said: "Where there is the threat of a demonstration turning to violence or disorder, then the Met Police have a responsibility to take that very seriously indeed, even if it takes a while to agree how that march will take place or indeed whether it will take place or not.
"It doesn’t matter which part of the political spectrum it comes from.
"What matters is security on our streets and we trust the Met Police to get on with that."
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Earlier this month, Nakba Day march organisers published an open letter expressing their frustration at the police’s decision.
The letter stated that plans were submitted to the Metropolitan Police on December 18, and criticised the force for refusing permission for the march to proceed on its preferred route.
The organisers wrote: "We are appalled to hear that the Metropolitan Police have refused permission for the Palestine movement to march to commemorate Nakba day on May 16 on its proposed route and instead given over the political centre of London to a hate march.
"The far right has targeted the Palestine movement before.
"They have done so aggressively with verbal and physical violence directed at the movement and the police."
Signatories to the letter include representatives from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Several public figures have also signed the letter, including Labour MPs Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Clive Lewis, and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Other signatories include Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts, and musicians Annie Lennox and Paloma Faith.
A Met Police spokesperson said political affiliations played no part in their decisions.
The spokesperson said: "The decisions the Met takes in relation to the policing of protests are not based on the political affiliations of the groups involved but on ensuring the safety and security of Londoners by preventing serious disruption and serious disorder.
"There are a number of factors that go into determining what routes and locations are appropriate.
"In this instance, the most relevant issue is the likely scale of the protest.
"It can be reasonably anticipated, given the number of attendees at the last event organised by the same group, that the ‘Unite the West’ will attract very significant crowds.
"There are only a limited number of roads in central London that can be used to safely accommodate such a crowd, with Whitehall being the most suitable.
"We acknowledge that it is disappointing for the organisers of the Nakba Day protest not to be able to march to their preferred location and we remain very open to meeting with them to discuss and agree an alternative that still enables participants to assemble in a location relevant to their cause."
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