U.S. Scenes of Violence Draw Cross-Party U.K. Condemnation

(Bloomberg) -- The scenes of violence in the U.S. drew condemnation from across Britain's political spectrum Wednesday, though Prime Minister Boris Johnson was careful to avoid directly criticizing President Donald Trump.

At the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session in Parliament, opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer opened by expressing his “shock and anger” at the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. He said it had “shone a light on racism and hatred experienced by many in the U.S.” and urged Johnson, when speaking to Trump, to “convey to him the U.K.'s abhorrence about his response to the events.”

Johnson's response swerved the question of the president, with whom he has generally had a warm relationship. “What happened in the U.S. was appalling,” he said. “It was inexcusable. I perfectly understand people's right to protest. I also believe that protest should take place in a lawful and reasonable way.”

Challenged again by the Scottish National Party's Ian Blackford about what he had said to Trump about the issue, Johnson again refused to answer. “Of course black lives matter,” he said, instead. “I totally understand the anger, the grief that is felt not just in America but around the world as well, and in our country.”

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