Utterly disgusting conduct by Metropolitan Police today. Having, as is their routine, slapped an unnecessary section 14 condition calling for a protest in Whitehall organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and partners by 430 they then tried to use it to close down a carol singing event nearby.

The event organised by Jewish and Christian groups and a @PSCupdates branch was surrounded by Police who threatened to arrest everyone if it did not disperse. This included threatening to arrest the presiding priest as she gave the final blessing if she didn't stop

They had no legal grounds to disrupt a peaceful event consisting of about 50 people singing on a pavement in Parl sq. Now it seems singing carols and praying , to draw attention to a genocide , risks major social disorder. Shameful.

@metpoliceuk @PSCupdates Starmer’s cowardly approach to free speech. If you can’t handle the criticism or can’t win the argument, then you silence the people.