Commons hears of £1m Rotherham far-right demo costs

A GOVERNMENT minister has joined condemnation of the  £1m cost of policing far-right demonstrations in Rotherham.

Don Foster, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, was responding to a House of Commons question by Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey.

Mr Healey said that recent demos by the English Defence League and the National Front had landed the town with a bill for half a million pounds each in policing costs and lost trade.

Mr Foster said: “I certainly do condemn that, and I am grateful to the right hononourable gentleman for raising the issue.

“The Department is taking a lot of steps to bring communities together, and we will shortly be announcing further funding for further such measures.

“The right hononourable gentleman  will be delighted to know that only a few days ago, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a further £214,000 for the TELL MAMA campaign, which is about reporting acts of anti-Muslim hatred.”