Clegg tribute to communities after ‘ugly’ violence

Nick Clegg visited the Canning Circus police station in Nottingham, which was firebombed during the riots on Tuesday.

He met community leaders cleaning up the damage, as well as police who dealt with the disorder, and paid tribute to their efforts.

“It’s a tribute to the local community and the police that the police station is now back in fully working order and people are out in the communities making sure people stand together against the thuggery and crime that occurred last Tuesday,” he said.

It’s been an incredibly distressing week. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

The Deputy Prime Minister said he had seen the positives that could come out of the riots in Nottingham.

“It’s been an incredibly distressing week but look at what happened here in Nottingham. There are also signs of a strong, healthy community that is bouncing back,” he said.

He also reiterated the Government’s stand that police cuts had nothing to do with the violence but said lessons should be learned on dealing with the disorder.

Ed Miliband in Brixton

The Labour leader Ed Miliband visited Brixton with the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Tessa Jowell, in the wake of the riots.

He visited businesses and people who were affected by the violence and looting, and attended a question and answer session at the Karibu Education Centre.

“It’s very important that we come here and listen,” he said.

“This must not just be seven days in August which shook our country. We must have a proper national conversation and learn lessons from this.

This must not just be seven days in August which shook our country. Labour leader Ed Miliband

“The fact that we are an unequal society is in the background of some of the things which have happened.”

He also connected the disturbances to a lack of responsibility in society, from parents up to the Government.

“Of course what happened in the banking sector, what happened with MPs’ expenses, and what happened with phone hacking is not the same as the looting we saw, but it is about irresponsibility, and there is a responsibility to those at the top of Britain to send the right message out,” he said.

Also today, Prime Minister David Cameron chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency planning meeting, Cobra, and met attendees of the “Not in Our Name” event. The anti-riot gathering, which is organised by youth charities, takes place in Westminster this afternoon.

Politicians are out meeting members of the public today to try to address the concerns of those affected by this week’s riots, the worst in living memory.