Joe Anderson: Give city leaders the power to ban far-right thugs from our streets

As a lifelong trade unionist and anti-fascist, the right to protest is one that I hold very dear. Even when those marching are doing so in a cause with which I don’t agree, I respect the principle of free speech and peaceful protest.

But when it’s self-confessed Neo-Nazis, daubing Swastikas on public buildings, hurling missiles at passers-by, injuring police officers, chanting hate and disrupting Saturday trade, then I’m afraid I’ve reached my limit.

Saturday’s gathering by the North West Infidels brought the stain of modern-day Nazi-ism to the streets of Liverpool. Saturday’s scenes of mayhem saw 34 arrests and a 21 year-old passer-by struck with a paving stone, causing her facial injuries, which may require plastic surgery.

I have written to Theresa May, the Home Secretary, asking that she urgently reviews the arrangements that stop city leaders like me from simply banning such groups from our streets. Currently, I need to appeal to her for the necessary permission. This is cumbersome and bureaucratic and often too slow.

It is doubly frustrating because I did precisely this last year after the so-called “White Man March” came to Liverpool.The group that organized that ‘gathering’ – National Action – even sent a charming letter to my home warning that any attempt to impede their event would see Liverpool “go up in flames”.

The challenge for our society is to always stand firm in a spirit of solidarity against the hate-filled few whose sole interest is division and violence. The time has surely come to grant locally-accountable democratically-elected city leaders the power to protect their citizens from being abused and intimidated in their own city.

Our country has a long and progressive tradition as a place where protest and radical ideas enrich the fabric of our discussions and new ideas and opinions must always be heard.

But if the sole aim of such groups is to spread fear and hatred then we should act and the government should give people like me the powers to do so.

Joe Anderson is Labour Mayor of Liverpool