Deputy Prime Minister visits Rotherham hotel after weekend’s disorder

Angela Rayner visited the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers, near Rotherham, where the community had pitched in to clean up after Sunday’s riot.

She told reporters that more than 140 people had been charged so far in connection with the riots across the UK, and pledged the government’s support for the police and courts in dealing with those who caused the disorder.

Ms Rayner said that people in South Yorkshire had been ‘afraid and scared’ by people ‘shouting racist abuse, shouting abuse and hurling missiles at police’ at the weekend.

Councillor Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the authority ‘appreciates the solidarity’ shown by the deputy PM – and that ‘hooligans causing the disorder ‘brought shame on themselves and their families’.

“Our thanks go to the Deputy Prime Minister and local government minister Jim McMahon for visiting Manvers to see for themselves some of the damage that was done over the weekend.

“We heard the most emotional stories from some of those heroes who were defending the building from rioters and those who were inside it at the time.

“The whole country, whatever their political views, stands with those heroes and against the pathetic hooligans whose disregard for human life brings shame on themselves and their families.

“We really appreciate the solidarity that Angela Rayner came to express, and her commitment to back our police colleagues and bring to swift justice those who caused such damage and harm to our communities.”

Angela Rayner and Jim McMahon met with councillor Read, as well as Sharon Kemp, chief executive of Rotherham Council, Hoober ward councillors, South Yorkshire Police, Rotherham United Community Trust and members of the Manvers community to see the clean-up efforts taking place.

South Yorkshire Police says officers are ‘working around the clock to identify those responsible for the abhorrent scenes witnessed at the weekend and bring them to justice’.

Seven people have now been charged in connection with the disorder in Rotherham, with a number of others arrested.