This is not protest, it is pure violence.

We will have a standing army of civil service officers.

We will increase criminal justice.

We will enforce criminal law online and offline.

We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities. pic.twitter.com/C1SmjJjo4R

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 5, 2024

Of course, “standing army” has a specific meaning, referring to a standing, professional force of soldiers paid for by the state. While this may be the status quo for most nation-states in the 21st century, until modern times in England, maintaining a full-time army was considered prohibitive. Only the truly important elements of national defense, a fighting navy and an artillery establishment, were continuously paid for, as these would take too long to regenerate in the event of an unexpected war.

Britain's first standing army was Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army, used to win a civil war and then enforce a period of direct military rule under major generals, intended to weaken enemies of the state that Cromwell perceived as dangerous conspirators after an attempted uprising.

As the country waited days to learn even the tiniest details of the mass stabbing of young children a week ago, an information vacuum was created that many have contributed to the feverish atmosphere which sparked protests, Sir Keir was clear today that there would be no need to wait to find out the identities of those being prosecuted for rioting. “I have asked that the name and identification of those involved in the process be considered as soon as possible, who will feel the full force of the law,” he said.