Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the resignation of West Midlands Police's Chief Constable, labelling his position "untenable" following a controversial decision to ban Israeli football fans from a match in Birmingham.
Police Grilled Over 'Capitulation to Islamists'
Senior officers from West Midlands Police faced intense scrutiny from MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee regarding the force's move to bar supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League fixture at Villa Park on 6 November last year.
In a strongly-worded post on social media platform X, Mrs Badenoch accused the police of having "capitulated to Islamists and then collaborated with them to cover it up." She stated the force knew extremists planned to attack Jewish attendees, yet chose to "blame and remove Jewish people instead."
"They presented an inversion of reality and misled a Parliamentary Committee. We have had enough of this in Britain," Badenoch wrote, concluding that Chief Constable Craig Guildford's position was now indefensible.
Force Denies Political Influence in Safety Decision
During the parliamentary hearing, police chiefs firmly denied that political pressure played any role in the ban. Chief Constable Guildford told MPs, "I do not believe there was political influence on that decision." He asserted the choice was made by a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) based on risk assessment.
The SAG, which includes police, emergency services, and council representatives, advises on public event safety. While acknowledging that local figures, including independent MP Ayoub Khan and some councillors, lobbied against the match, Guildford maintained there was no political interference in the final operational decision.
Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara supported this, telling the committee, "I understood the frustration, but there is no conspiracy here, this is a decision based on safety." He cited intelligence on local "vigilante groups" targeting fans and online goading as key factors.
Apology Over Misrepresented Community Views
The session also revealed a significant error in the force's previous evidence. ACC O'Hara admitted he was "personally quite gutted" to learn he may have misrepresented the stance of the local Jewish community.
Labour MP Joani Reid highlighted that police had earlier claimed the ban had community support, which was incorrect. O'Hara offered an unreserved apology, stating it was never his intention to cause confusion and that he had immediately apologised to community leaders.
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions and raises serious questions about policing, political influence, and community safety in the UK. The call for resignation from a senior political figure places immense pressure on the leadership of West Midlands Police.
