Former UK Labour Party leader agrees to be interviewed by police over pro-Palestinian rally

Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell have agreed to be interviewed by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday. The Metropolitan Police are investigating what it described as a coordinated effort by the rally’s organizers to breach conditions imposed on the event.

Corbyn, 75, and McDonnell, 73, voluntarily appeared at a police station in the capital on Sunday afternoon. The rally, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), saw thousands gather in Whitehall after police blocked plans for a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC.

Officers had imposed conditions under the Public Order Act restricting the protest to Whitehall, citing concerns over a potential "serious disruption" near a synagogue.

Police said a group of protesters broke through a police line to reach Trafalgar Square, where officers stopped them.

The Metropolitan Police posted a photo on social media showing a group that it said had forced its way through the police line being held at the northwest corner of Trafalgar Square.

Corbyn, however, disputed the account.

"This is not an accurate description of events at all," he said in a post on X.

He said he was part of a delegation of speakers intending to lay flowers in memory of children killed in Gaza, which was "facilitated by the police."

McDonnell echoed his comments.

“We did not force our way through. The police allowed us to go through, and when we stopped in Trafalgar Square, we laid our flowers down and dispersed."

Nine people, including Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn, and Chris Nineham, a chief steward on the march, have been charged with public order offences and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the coming days.

The Met Police also confirmed that 24 people have been bailed while 48 remain in custody. Three other men aged 75, 73 and 61 have agreed to be interviewed under criminal caution.

The protest coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Corbyn, who now sits as an independent member of parliament (MP) for Islington North, has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights. McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, also sits as an independent after Labour suspended the whip from him for six months in July 2024 over his vote against the government on child benefit rules.

-Highest number of arrests

The demonstration in London drew tens of thousands of supporters of Palestine, despite the police-imposed restrictions and banning of a previously agreed-upon route. During the protest, 77 people were arrested. Met Commander Adam Slonecki said security forces have been deployed for more than 20 national protests organized by the PSC since October 2023. He highlighted that the number of arrests at yesterday’s rally marked the "highest number” recorded at such demonstrations during this period.