Live: Keir Starmer holds emergency Downing Street press conference after violent Southport protests

Watch live as Sir Keir Starmer holds an emergency press conference at No 10 after vowing “action will be taken” following “violent disorder” in parts of England in the wake of the Southport stabbings. The prime minister summoned police chiefs to Downing Street on Thursday afternoon (1 August) following scenes of unrest in London, Hartlepool and Manchester overnight, while a demonstration in Aldershot saw a tense stand-off with riot police. At the meeting, he told the senior officers: “I wanted to send a message to each of you and, through you, your officers to say that this government supports the police, supports what you are doing, and to be absolutely clear: This is not protest, this is violent disorder and action will be taken. “This Government will make sure you have got the powers you need and will back you in using those powers.” Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global new