Anna Soubry

Nothing to say about the whole issue of security vetting, security passes, power to decide who to include/exclude then lemon? Have you any idea about the number of interviews going on on College Green at any one time especially when a big story is breaking? Having interviews inside in general is just totally unfeasible - use of rooms just could not be planned for even if the whole security and access issues were resolved ( which they won’t and can’t be)

Are you an inHouse manager in Westminster MaryE that you know there wouldn’t be a room? You seem to know so very much ( about everything.) It’s amazing.

...jostling and physicality and getting in her way trying to get back into the House.

Quite so maryeliza54.

It's not just the Rent-a-Mobs - the behaviour of some MPs is deplorable too.

Definitely Jalima1108.

Interviews were carried out indoors until fairly recently.
These al fresco ones are easier for the media to grab passing politicians.It’s like the fashion for newsreaders to stand up to read the news, it looks immediate and edgy ( and silly ).
Of course there will be an appropriate room in Westminster in which to conduct an interview!

Harassment is a crime, the police should have acted. Their non-action is like giving others permission to do the same. I think they have accepted that.

So the police only act when a crime has been committed? Really? So never preventatively? It wasn’t the heckling it was the jostling and physicality and getting in her way trying to get back into the House. The police saw this and should have protected her as they would in other situations where a group of people were posing a potential risk. As for interviews in the Palace of Westminster - really ? Firstly there is not enough room but more importantly there would be the whole issue of security vetting and passes and the potential for the authorities to deny access and the trouble that could cause. College Green is open to all and it isn’t just about the British media but the foreign press.

Lemongrove I have often wondered about the trend of “alfresco” interviews/pieces to camera etc.

GG13 yes, McDonnell did say that ( although he wouldn’t like it done to himself of course.)
Citizens have a right to shout and heckle in public and always have done to MP’s.
Are we asking for special treatment for female MP’s, simply because they are women? Just asking, because we can’t have equality for some things and not others.
Another point, I am constantly amazed by the current fashion for interviews ( sometimes lengthy) in the street, rain, snow, high winds etc is is ridiculous, didn’t used to be done and so could go back to studios or rooms in Westminster or anywhere in fact.This would be the answer at a stroke to do away with an angry confrontation.
The police didn’t act because no crime was committed.
There is a danger, for all MP’s both male and female, that a nutter will lunge at them with a knife or a gun in rare instances, so the police could consider keeping the area around College Green free from the public, at least the immediate area near the buildings.

The problem as I see it Paddyann would be the rUK government making as big a pig's ear of letting Scotland go as they have of Brexit.
And they still wouldn't see the irony of the situation.

Couldn't agree more Jalima ????

It's not just the Rent-a-Mobs - the behaviour of some MPs is deplorable too.

I have just come across some footage of John McDonnell on the 17/11/2012 he said

"I want to be in a position where no Tory MP can travel anywhere in the country, or show their fave anywhere in public without being challenged, without direct action"

Looks like he got his wish.

Brexit has not given people permission to behave this way. A lack of education, parental supervision and a lack of penalty etc has given people permission to act this way.

Piscarii We haven't LEFT yet ,watch this space.The economy is already on a sticky wicket this will destroy the UK...not that I'm complaining, every stupid decision taken by Westminster brings Scottish Independence nearer .

Brexit has given people permission to behave in this disgusting way. I despair for the future of this country

I do not defend anyone who commits harassment but I just point out the difference in the way opposing campaigns were and are being conducted.

No-one for a minute accuses all brexit supporters of this, obviously the hooligans are in a small minority, but their behaviour is dangerous and is encouraged by the lies of the brexit politicians and the intemperate language of the brexit supporting tabloids.

I hope you are wrong ReadyMeals but fear you may be right.

I think we all voted from a variety of motives- that's why the discussions around it can be so frustrating, with everyone trying to tell everyone else "what everyone voted for". It's impossible. I dare say some people voted leave just because they didn't like Cameron, and some people probably voted remain just because they think Cameron has nice blue eyes or something, or because they dislike Johnson. So many many reasons.

varian one solitary man murdered Jo Cox , it’s wrong to defend one side, harassment is harassment regardless of numbers or reasons.

tickingbird I think that it is counter productive to attack MPs when they venture out. Then people complain about them living in a bubble. Heckling is one thing as long as people can still talk, but I don't think that throwing eggs (as was done to Milliband), berrating someone's children (as with JRM) or behaving in a threatening way (as with Soubry) is ok. Nor are the online rape and murder threats that Diane Abbott gets ok.
It is understandable that people feel strongly and I believe in protest but individuals should never be made to feel afraid.

I think Anna Sourbry has had to put up with a lot of abuse that goes way beyond heckling. She has had death threats , threats of violence and much worse. I think it is disgraceful.
I agree with her over brexit, but not about much else, but admire her honesty and bravery in doing what she believes is right. . If I was her I am sure I would have stopped speaking out long ago.

I think the mob surrounding Anna Soubry were out of order. However, i don’t agree that the far right are worse than the far left. Anyone remember JRM being punched at a university rsity last year? During the last election i saw a UKIP stand in my city centre and the respectable looking man giving out leaflets, covered in paint. The mob around him made it quite clear nobody was going to have a discussion with him or get any literature as people were too scared to approach the stall. Whether you agree with their policies or not, and let’s face it, they are a “LEAVE THE EU” party, nobody has the right to intimidate their activists or people who want to enter into a discussion with them. Let’s face it anyone with any type of view against immigration or any thing that differs from the ‘woke’ population’s view is shouted down, sacked or blacklisted. I’m certainly not a far right leaning voter but i did vote to leave and i totally agree with Piscarii’s post - if it had gone the other way that would have been the end of it.

I see no point in referring to other situations, whether less or worse, surely this behaviour was unacceptable and, if not condemned now, will encourage worse.

I don't understand how anyone can say what would have happened if the vote went the other way. How can they possibly know?

I have seen news of lots of people demonstrating for another vote but have not heard that they have abused anyone in this way. Is that because the media haven't shown it or because it hasn't happened. Is it only Leavers who are abusive or are Remainers also abusive. Can anyone provide a link?

annaraml I feel the same way. The online abuse has been horrendous and may give an impression that people are no longer going to support Brexit as people have kept quiet but I think most will.
This might interest you on the way figures are being gathered to support the so called People's Vote.
skwawkbox.org/2019/01/07/yougov-admits-priming-as-experts-criticise-brexit-poll-and-results/

I do think the mob surrounding Anna Soubry was very intimidating, whether she has a thin or thick skin. I feel sorry for her, and I' m sure most Brexiteers are not like that.