Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to resign over police cuts which he says left the public vulnerable to terrorist attacks like those seen in Manchester and London.
His comments follow an earlier call by Steve Hilton, the former chief strategy advisor to David Cameron, for May to step down.
Posting on Twitter on Monday morning, Hilton appeared adamant that May should go.
On social media there has been some cynicism over Hilton’s motives for speaking out. Some have pointed out that Monday sees the premiere of Hilton’s new show on Fox News, titled ‘The Next Revolution’.
May served as home secretary in Cameron’s government for six years before she became PM. She presided over policing, counter-terrorism and Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5.
She is under serious pressure ahead of Thursday’s general election to address the links between her cuts to police budgets and the attacks on Westminster Bridge, Manchester Arena and London Bridge.
A former senior officer of the London Metropolitan Police has branded May and her Conservative government “liars” for their claims that police cuts had not left the public at risk.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, retired chief inspector Peter Kirkham said: “The police service is in crisis as a result of the cuts. They are being dragged from pillar to post. We hear talk of extra police officers on the street.
“They aren’t extra, they are officers that have had to have their rare leave days cancelled, they have had their 12-hour shifts that are now done routinely being extended to 16 hours, they are being drawn from other areas.”
Responding to Saturday evening’s attack, which killed 7 and left 50 injured, one lone officer took on the knife-wielding attackers armed with just a truncheon.
The British Transport Police (BTP) officer, who has only been serving for a short time, was stabbed in the hand, leg and head, but is reportedly in a stable condition.
“Although he is seriously unwell, he was able to recount how he faced the attackers armed only with his baton, outside London Bridge station,” BPT chief constable Paul Crowther told the Telegraph.
“For an officer who only joined us less than two years ago, the bravery he showed was outstanding and makes me extremely proud.”
Corbyn later backtracked on his call for May’s resignation, arguing that he had merely been “articulating what is deep anger amongst those people that have seen 20,000 police officers lose their jobs.”