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Boris Johnson and his cabinet did not take part in the minute’s silence for George Floyd, a Downing Street spokesman has revealed.
The silence at 11am was marked in the House of Commons, where MPs stood in respect for the African-American man whose killing while being detained by US police has sparked protests around the world.
But the prime minister’s official spokesman said that Mr Johnson and his senior ministers were discussing the Floyd case at the time and did not break off from their weekly meeting.
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The spokesman said that the PM used the opportunity to recognise the “anger and grief” felt over Floyd’s killing not only in the US, but in countries around the world including the UK.
But he also restated his warning that those who break social distancing rules or attack property or the police in protest marches “will face the full force of the law”.
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1/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
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2/79 A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
3/79 People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
REUTERS
4/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
5/79 Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
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6/79 People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
7/79 Demonstrators in Leicester
REUTERS
8/79 A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
9/79 A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
REUTERS
10/79 A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
AFP via Getty Images
11/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
12/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
PA
13/79 Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
14/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
15/79 Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
16/79 Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
AFP via Getty Images
17/79 Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
Getty Images
18/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
19/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
Reuters
20/79 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
21/79 Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
22/79 Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
REUTERS
23/79 A protest at Parliament Square in London
EPA
24/79 A demonstrator in Leicester
REUTERS
25/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
26/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
27/79 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
AP
28/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
PA
29/79 Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
30/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
31/79 Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
32/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
33/79 Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
34/79 People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
REUTERS
35/79 A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
36/79 A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street ‘Rosa Parks Street’ in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
PA
37/79 Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
38/79 Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
AP
39/79 Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
40/79 Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
AP
41/79 A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
42/79 Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
Getty Images
43/79 A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
AP
44/79 Girls hold placards in London
AP
45/79 A demonstrator in Parliament Square
REUTERS
46/79 A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
47/79 A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
48/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
PA
49/79 Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
EPA
50/79 A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
51/79 A ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
EPA
52/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
53/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
54/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
55/79 Protests at Parliament Square in London
EPA
56/79 A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
57/79 Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
58/79 Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
Getty Images
59/79 Demonstrators in Parliament Square
REUTERS
60/79 Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
61/79 A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
62/79 A protest march in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
63/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
Gemma Fox/The Independent
64/79 Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
65/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
66/79 Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
REUTERS
67/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
68/79 A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
69/79 Protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
70/79 Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
71/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
72/79 Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty
73/79 A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
74/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
75/79 Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
76/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
77/79 Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
78/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
79/79 A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
AP
1/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
PA
2/79 A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
3/79 People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
REUTERS
4/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
5/79 Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
Getty Images
6/79 People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
AP
7/79 Demonstrators in Leicester
REUTERS
8/79 A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
9/79 A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
REUTERS
10/79 A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
AFP via Getty Images
11/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
12/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
PA
13/79 Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
14/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
15/79 Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
16/79 Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
AFP via Getty Images
17/79 Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
Getty Images
18/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
19/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
Reuters
20/79 A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
21/79 Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
22/79 Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
REUTERS
23/79 A protest at Parliament Square in London
EPA
24/79 A demonstrator in Leicester
REUTERS
25/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
26/79 Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
27/79 Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
AP
28/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
PA
29/79 Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
30/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
AFP via Getty Images
31/79 Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
32/79 People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
33/79 Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
34/79 People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
REUTERS
35/79 A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
36/79 A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street ‘Rosa Parks Street’ in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
PA
37/79 Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
38/79 Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
AP
39/79 Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
AP
40/79 Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
AP
41/79 A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
Getty Images
42/79 Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
Getty Images
43/79 A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
AP
44/79 Girls hold placards in London
AP
45/79 A demonstrator in Parliament Square
REUTERS
46/79 A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
REUTERS
47/79 A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
48/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
PA
49/79 Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
EPA
50/79 A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
51/79 A ‘Black Lives Matter’ (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
EPA
52/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
53/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
54/79 Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
PA
55/79 Protests at Parliament Square in London
EPA
56/79 A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
57/79 Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
REUTERS
58/79 Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
Getty Images
59/79 Demonstrators in Parliament Square
REUTERS
60/79 Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
61/79 A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty Images
62/79 A protest march in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
63/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
Gemma Fox/The Independent
64/79 Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
65/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
66/79 Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
REUTERS
67/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
PA
68/79 A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
REUTERS
69/79 Protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
70/79 Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
REUTERS
71/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
72/79 Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
Getty
73/79 A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
74/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
PA
75/79 Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
REUTERS
76/79 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
PA
77/79 Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
Getty Images
78/79 Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
AFP via Getty Images
79/79 A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
AP
With campaigners now demanding the removal of a statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes at Oxford University, the spokesman said Mr Johnson was clear that “desecrating” a monument was against the law.
But he stopped short of telling police to step if the Rhodes statue is attacked during a demonstration planned for this evening, following controversy after Avon and Somerset police’s decision to hold back from intervening when demonstrators destroyed a memorial to slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.
“Police will have to make their own operational decisions based on individual circumstances but I think the PM is very clear that people should not be desecrating public monuments and where they do so they should face the full force of the law,” said the spokesman.
He insisted that the UK was a “much less racist country” than it once was, but said there was “much more to do” to eradicated prejudice and discrimination.
His spokesman said the PM will use upcoming speeches to set out how he wants to use his “levelling up” agenda to address imbalances not only between different regions of the country but also between different ethnic and religious groups.
“The PM began cabinet by discussing the anger and the grief that is not just felt in the US but around the world including the UK following the death of George Floyd,” said the spokesman.
“He said those who lead and govern simply cannot ignore the depth of emotion that has been triggered.
“The PM said there was an undeniable feeling of injustice and that people from black and minority ethnic groups do face discrimination in education, in employment and in the application of criminal law.
“The PM said we’re a much, much less racist society than we were but we must also frankly acknowledge that there’s so much more to do in eradicating prejudice and creating opportunity.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the minute’s silence in parliament.
“Today, at 11am, Parliament held a minute’s silence in memory of George Floyd,” said Starmer.
“He must not become just another name. His death must be a catalyst for change. The Labour Party stands with those opposing racism and oppression in the UK and across the world.”
Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk