The Reform UK MP says tax-payers are sick to death of people taking the mick.
Robert Jenrick confronts traveller encampment in Newton
Robert Jenrick has accused travellers of “taking the p***” in a scathing attack at an allegedly illegal encampment. The MP for Newark posted a video on social media on Sunday in which he can be seen confronting people outside caravans in a field. He tells viewers: “Law-abiding tax-payers are absolutely sick to death of other people taking the mick. I’ve just been down here to see a traveller site that’s come once again.” The Reform UK politician claimed it cost the local council almost £4,000 to clean up after a previous camp was set up in the area.
In one scene from the minute-long clip, Mr Jenrick can be seen telling one person at the camp of nearby local residents: “They’re all paying their council tax. They’re working hard. They’re getting up in the morning, paying tax and then they see people just taking the p*** like this.”
Another encounter shows the former Tory MP telling a woman who insists she pays council tax: “I don’t think you do. Not for here.” In another exchange, Mr Jenrick tells another person locals are sick of the money being spent as a result of people setting up camp near the village of Newton, Nottinghamshire.
In a tweet to accompany his video, Mr Jenrick said: “Law abiding people are sick of illegal traveller encampments. I went to visit the site at Newton near Bingham. Reform will end this, once and for all. No more messing around.”
The local council has been approached for comment.
Reform UK has claimed that travellers are being given a “free pass” to set up camps. Nigel Farage‘s outfit has said if it were to form the next government it would introduce laws to grant police new powers to issue orders against people at unauthorised encampments to leave or face arrest.
Robert Jenrick accuses travellers of ‘taking the p***’ (Image: Robert Jenrick)
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman, told The Sun in April: “For too long law abiding citizens have suffered under two-tier policing as travellers build unauthorised encampments. And fly-tipping has been all but legalised. Reform will end this.”
It is not the first time Mr Jenrick has posted confrontations with members of the public on social media. Earlier this month, Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman shared footage from Brixton, south London, in which he can be seen in hot pursuit of suspected shoplifters outside a branch of Greggs.
In one clip, Mr Jenrick can be seen challenging a man for stealing a bottle of Dr Pepper and asking him if he would return it to the shop, which the chap agrees to do. The MP later puts the bottle into a fridge in Greggs.
Mr Jenrick’s efforts won praise from supporters for helping to draw attention to the impact shoplifting has on business and the perceived lack of police action to tackle the scourge. Critics accused Mr Jenrick of grandstanding and cast doubt on the appropriateness of such encounters.