'Is nothing sacred?' Fury as Cenotaph is 'desecrated' by anti-Israel protest

Tory MPs have reacted with fury after a pro-Palestinian protest was allowed to be set up next to the Cenotaph commenorating the war dead in Whitehall.

One MP described the protest as "a desecration" of "a sacred site" and there have been demands to have it removed.

It follows thousands of anti-Israel protests swarming into London yesterday with some glorifying the Hamas terrorist atrocities inflicted on Israeli citizens including babies last weekend.

It was initially claimed that Labour run Westminster Council would have needed to give permission for the protest on a site constructed immediately next to the Cenotaph.

However, a spokesman for the council said: "We did not give permission."

But amid growing confusion over who was responsible, a Met Police spokesman said: "I understand this would sit with council and not us."

With no authority taking responsibility for permitting the platform, it was cleared away by this morning (Monday) with Remembrance Sunday just weeks away.

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said that pro-Palestinian protests "should be banned" as they have in other European countries including France.

He said: "It's outrageous to have it surrounding the cenotaph."

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, deputy chairman of the Tory Common Sense Group, said: “Under no circumstances should something like this be allowed. It’s beyond disrespectful.

"The Cenotaph remembers all those who have died fighting for our country and it’s values. Apologists for terror do not represent these values and should be allowed nowhere near such a sacred national monument.”

MP for the Cities of London and Westminster Nickie Aiken, a former leader of the council, described the decision as "inappropriate."

She said: "I find it difficult to understand why permission would be given for any protest should take place around the cenotaph. Parliament or Trafalgar Squares are far more appropriate."

The image came courtesy of a picture taken by Conservative member and political commentator Emily Hewertson.

She said: "Setting up a protest around The Cenotaph…How disrespectful can you get?"

The image clearly shows a constructed platform with Palestinian flags and protected by barriers even though currently it is empty.

It included a highly offensive anti-Israel poster with the words: "End the violence. No Apartheid. End the occupation."

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel struggled to believe it had been allowed.

She said: "So much for all the tough talk around this issue. This is insane."

Former Armed Forces Minister and member of the Defence select Committee Mark Francois also expressed his shock.

He said: "The Cenotaph is our national memorial that commemorates the dead in two World Wars.

"It is therefore hallowed ground.

"Under no circumstances whatsoever, should it ever be utilised as a premeditated venue for a political protest, of any kind.

"Whoever has sanctioned this utter disgrace must have truly lost their minds.”

Stoke North MP Jonathan Gullis, another member of the influential Common Sense Group, said: "The Cenotaph is one of this nations most important monuments, bringing us together to remember our glorious dead who gave their today for our tomorrow.

“To think a ‘protest’ that will have people celebrating the desecration of innocent human life in some of the most barbaric ways makes me sick to the pit of my stomach.

“The Cenotaph should never be used or have any other demonstrations set up near it, other than when we gather as a nation to pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and safety.”

Conservative Workington MP Mark Jenkinson added: "This is the height of disrespect, I don’t expect anything better from those that will undoubtedly turn out to churn out Hamas’ propaganda - but I do expect better from the Met Police and Westminster Council."