Robert Jenrick has reacted “boohoo” to footage of a woman being dragged out by her hair after heckling Nigel Farage’s speech at Reform UK’s party conference.
Article continues below
Reform’s Treasury spokesman – whose party claims to champion free speech – told protestors to “get a life” after disrupting the leader’s keynote address on Friday.
Article continues below
A sickening clip shows a woman being hit around the head with a crutch before her hair is pulled and a hand put over her mouth at the party conference. The grey haired man seen assaulting her was not a member of the event’s security team. Another woman from the crowd can be seen pulling the protester’s hair as guards escorted her from Birmingham’s NEC. West Midlands Police has asked the protester to come forward in light of the footage.
Asked about a “disturbing video” of a woman being dragged out by her hair and hit over the head, Mr Jenrick said: “Oh boohoo.” He told Sky News host Jon Sopel: “We’re now in a country, Jon, where somebody who is – whatever she is – a far-left protester, goes into a party conference, tries to wreck the leader’s speech, and cries foul if a pensioner knocks her over the head with their Zimmer frame, I mean, come on, get a life.
“This person knew what they were doing. They were trying to cause trouble, and they probably got more publicity out of it as a result of what happened.”
A Labour source said: “Funny how Robert Jenrick only champions free speech until someone exercises it in a way he dislikes – and then assault apparently becomes acceptable.” Replying to Mr Jenrick’s comments on social media, Lib Dem MP Max Wilkinson said: “Reform: ‘protect our women and girls.’ Reform when a woman is attacked on their watch: ‘oh boo hoo.’ Horrible.” And the Liberal Democrats also posted the footage of the woman on social media, captioning: “Don’t let Trump’s America become Farage’s Britain.”
West Midlands Police said on Sunday: “Our enquiries are continuing and we would ask the woman involved to come forward. Anyone with any information should contact us on 101 quoting log number 924 of September 5.”
Mr Farage was interrupted four times during his keynote conference speech on Friday. He laughed as the first demonstrator was taken away and Reform fans chanted “out, out, out”.
Article continues below
The Reform leader said: “We’ve got a screamer. Oh dear.” And he added: “That poor young girl, she looked like she was going to do herself an injury,” before adding, “boring, boring, boring”.
Asked by The Mirror whether those involved should face consequences during a conference event about free speech, Nadine Dorries said those who disrupt speakers should not expect to be treated gently and said it was “shocking” that protesters had been there.
Ms Dorries, who was Tory Culture Secretary under Boris Johnson before defecting to Reform, said: “Somebody said to me it was shocking to see protesters being treated the way they were. I think what was also shocking was the way they thought they could come into the conference and try to derail Nigel Farage’s speech.”
And she went on: “If you’re going to come into a conference like this… of course you’re not going to get gentle treatment.” And she added: “It’s wrong, no one should be punched.” She went on: “No one should attend this conference and try and disrupt it.”
Her remarks came after The Mirror asked if those who assaulted protesters should face consequences. Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf responded: “To the question from The Mirror about whether I condemn people punching people, yes I do condemn people punching people.”
Reform’s chairman Lee Anderson used his speech to make a joke about the incident and said the party would be having a “whip round” for an audience member who was seen hitting the protester with a walking stick. He told delegates: “A few nuisances we had in the hall yesterday, the protesters…
“I did see an old chap, a pensioner, somewhere with a walking stick… Look I don’t condone any of that type of behaviour, but if anyone wants to have a quick whip around later we are collecting for a new walking stick. He’s in here somewhere.”
Mr Farage said on Saturday the criticism was “one-sided”, telling broadcasters: “It’s all one way, isn’t it? I can have milkshakes chucked in my face, be bashed over the head with placards and that’s all fine. That’s absolutely fine.
Article continues below
“Yet, well, we have a big event that people have paid a lot of money to come to and we get people there trying to disrupt it and we remove them. Suddenly we’re in the wrong. Utter nonsense.”
Activist group Climate Resistance claimed responsibility for the protest. In a comment, they said they were “horrified at the violence” from Reform conference audience members. The group also said the protester was considering whether to come forward to police.