“The Metropolitan Police Commissioner got the judgement badly wrong by refusing to let a peaceful, Covid-safe vigil to mark the horrific killing of Sarah Everard go ahead. A peaceful vigil highlighting violence by men against women ended with women being wrestled to the ground. 

“Cressida Dick put both the women at that vigil and her police officers in a very difficult position. She has undermined the public trust and confidence that our police need to do their jobs. She should have already gone. 

“The appalling scenes we saw that evening on Clapham Common also show how dangerous and draconian Priti Patel’s protest crackdown law is. How on Earth can the Conservatives think the answer is to give the police even more powers to clampdown on protests? 

“The right to peaceful assembly and protest has always been a crucial part of our democratic society, and Liberal Democrats will fiercely resist the Tories’ attempts to undermine it.”