British Prime Minister David Cameron promised a fightback. In the British political context the term is used for a politician or a party that has lost the opening rounds or rounds and now attempts to rally. Cameron met with COBRA the supreme security coordinating body for the second successive morning after massive police reinforcements had managed to secure London following three nights of anarchy only to have the looting and burning spread to other cities.
Sensing a hardening public mood the prime minister announced that no countermeasure was off the table and he approved the use of rubber bullets and in general told reporters at 10 Downing Street that the police would enjoy "legal backing" for "whatever tactics the police feel they need to employ."
"Whatever resources the police need they will get," said Cameron who had to endure complaints for his fellow Conservative Party member, London Mayor Boris Johnson that the coalition had to backtrack on its plans to make cuts in the police force.
The seriousness of the situation is sometimes best conveyed by side issues. For example the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals published a series of guidelines on how to care for your pets in case the gangs threaten your area and the police advise you that they cannot guarantee your safety. Here is an excerpt:
"If your home is evacuated, we advise you take your pets with you. It is not safe to leave your pets alone locked in your home, or to let them loose to fend for themselves.
If you think it’s likely your home may be evacuated, you should be ready. Have a plan, including asking someone to remove your animals if you are not at home. Have provisions ready, including a pet carrier, food, bedding and any medicines."
In response to the feeling that the police have lost control vigilante groups have been forming to protect property and businesses. Three such persons were killed in Birmingham when a car deliberately drove into them. The case is being treated as murder.
If the coalition originally lost points for its early handling of the crisis it may be recouping them because the Labor Party opposition is sending out mixed signals. On the one hand is calling for a restoration of public order but at the same time it is hinting that social service cuts are partially responsible for the outbreak.
In a spirited debate on the BBC's Newsnight program education Secretary Michael Gove, one of Israel's strongest supporters in the cabinet took on Labour Party MP and former minister Harriet Harman. Harman raised the issue of cuts and Gove a star debater at Oxford pounced " Harriet, do you think there are people breaking into Currys [an appliance chain] to steal plasma TV screens and breaking into Foot Locker to steal box fresh trainers who are protesting against tuition fees.?
When Harman raised the issue of parenting Gove shot back:
Who has been in charge of parenting policy for the last 13 years [Labour was in power between 1997-2009], Harriet? Who gave us this deficit? Harriet, if there is anyone who is responsible for the environment in which these young people grew up it's you and the Labour party. Now I don't want to have more of your double dealing out of one side of your mouth saying that you are going to show solidarity with the government and with the legitimate forces of order and on the other side try to make partisan points
As an example of the polarization of British society left-wing and anti-Israel Guardian crowed that Michael Gove had lost his cool while the conservative Telegraph exulted in his performance. The Financial Times that could be considered more middle-of-the-road shared the consensus that Labour's ambivalent policy would backfire against it.