Latest updates: Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, says Public Order Act gives police commanders ‘powers they have asked for for many months’
Rishi Sunak has set five priorities for his government, of which three – halving inflation, getting the economy growing, and reducing debt – relate to the economy.
Law and order is not normally seen as part of economic policy. But in his Today interview this morning Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, suggested the Public Order Act, which gives the police new powers to stop protesters, was part of the government’s growth strategy. He explained:
We’ve seen the nature of protest in the UK become so much more disruptive, so much more intrusive.
We cannot deliver on the five pledges that the prime minister has set out – we can’t halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists or stop boats – if we can’t get the economy going. And that’s what we’ve really focused on.
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