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Climate protesters at Mansion House

(252 Posts)
Urmstongran Fri 21-Jun-19 10:21:17

The Conservatives have been plunged into controversy after a video showed a minister grab and manhandle a protester who disrupted the chancellor’s Mansion House speech.

I though Mark Field did the right thing. What a terrible security breach to have people just barging into places she could have had a weapon.

I would be asking security how she got in in the first place.

Avor2 Fri 21-Jun-19 14:25:31

Everyone is entitled to have a protest, but sensibly. She says she wants to take down each Conservative MP, that doesn't sound very peaceful does it. All because she is a woman they play the "little woman" card, as you all say if he had done nothing and she had thrown acid at someone we would all complain he did nothing. Poor bloke, give him back his job, fed up with people losing their jobs because of people like her.

crystaltipps Fri 21-Jun-19 14:34:08

It was a peaceful protest. Lots of whataboutery here. If she’d had a gun/ knife/ milkshake/ suicide vest etc etc she didn’t, she had a sleeveless evening gown, some leaflets and an evening bag . It was ok to remove her but not in this way. I honestly don’t think he’d have done the same to a man who was the same size as him.

Dinahmo Fri 21-Jun-19 14:44:02

I don't think that we've all seem the same video. Mark Field turned around quickly and pushed the woman against a pillar and continued to push her for some seconds before grabbing her by the back of the neck and manhandling her towards the back of the hall.

The women all wore red frocks with banners proclaiming the organisation. There was no need for his violent response; he could have stood and blocked her way.

As Bluebelle says above, his face was contorted with anger.

This was a peaceful protest and, as far as I'm aware that is still allowed in the UK.

trisher Fri 21-Jun-19 15:25:41

Lyndiloo have you actually looked at what happened? Firstly he would have known exactly who the demonstrators were as a number had already been removed by security without any violence whatsoever. So the idea that he only had seconds to think about it is completely wrong. In fact I think he had a substantial amount of time to think about it and when she appeared he was furious and behaved very agressively. As for bruising she probably wouldn't have any but there are nerve endings in the back of the neck that cause a lot of pain when pressure is applied. If you doubt that get someone to grab you with one hand and apply pressure, fingures one side thumb the other. You'll soon feel it.

Elvive Fri 21-Jun-19 15:37:30

I'm interested in the fact that nobody else made a single move.

pinkquartz Fri 21-Jun-19 15:41:27

I felt sickened seeing all those powerful and privileged showing no interest in the planet and ecology.
All they are about is money and power.
She was no threat her body language was passive.
He had a nasty look though. Glad he is suspended.

BlueBelle Fri 21-Jun-19 15:57:54

Interesting how divided we are, just like the country the same people supporting Brexit are supporting this thug and the same people finding his behaviour atrocious
The police or security would never have banged her against the post grab her neck and forcibly frog marched her out they diffuse situations and talk the person down to obeying them in fact the police only put their hands on people as a last resort
For the poster stating she was physically resisting him you were watching a different video to me Bloody atrocious behaviour from a grown supposedly intelligent but very angry and out of control animal
How any woman can support this behaviour is totally beyond me

Anniebach Fri 21-Jun-19 16:04:26

BlueBell you are wrong in your judgement, I certainly am not supporting Brexit.

The police are trained , the public are not.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 21-Jun-19 16:05:33

Twitter

Mark Field MP (who's just assaulted a climate activist)

- attacked AIDS charities as a waste of money & said they are "little more than a gay rights front"

- urged police to clear the "Occupy" camps at night, calling them a "third world shanty town"

He's a nasty piece of work

Whitewavemark2 Fri 21-Jun-19 16:10:26

Opinion of a Legal bod

Gareth Roberts
@GarethRoberts3

Looking at the #MarkField incident with my barrister's hat on: there is, prima facie, a common assault by him against the lady. She is not a threat to him and the generic 'she is a protestor, therefore may be a threat' would give anyone a right to assault anyone protesting.

lemongrove Fri 21-Jun-19 16:10:27

That’s a snap judgement on your part Bluebelle and a wrong one.
Does anyone remember the Labour Party member, old, and disabled if I remember rightly, heckling Jeremy Corbyn from his seat in the LP conference.He was descended upon by several large security people and bundled out of the venue at some speed.He was never a threat and his treatment was despicable.
However,the woman protester at the Mansion House Dinner, heading for the top table, could have been a threat.

lemongrove Fri 21-Jun-19 16:15:03

It’s all down to the definition of assault isn’t it? Being marched firmly out of a venue when you have no right to be there and are shouting slogans and trying to get to the front
Is one thing, if the MP had hit her, it would be another matter entirely.

GabriellaG54 Fri 21-Jun-19 16:20:30

I'm on Mark Field's side.
It's totally wrong to break into a private meeting and cause mayhem or even just interrupt.
Security with body-cam on the door next time and door locked. Only able to be opened from inside or security guy with a key.

Elvive Fri 21-Jun-19 16:24:51

Do you think this division on this forum is a microcosm of what's going on in the real world?

Maybe people just see it as a safe place to vent. How on earth did we arrive at this point? Perhaps both the way the Corbyn heckler and the protester yesterday were treated poorly?

lemongrove Fri 21-Jun-19 16:31:49

There is always division, different people have different views after all.
There is certainly more fear of protestors, especially when they run into a venue shouting angrily, people seated at the table were likely initially shocked, not knowing what was going on.Terrorism has created this fear I think, and not knowing how far protestors will go.

JenniferEccles Fri 21-Jun-19 16:31:57

I too am on Mr. Field's side.

It wasn't apparent on the video I watched but I understand there were a few protesters, so maybe Mark Field heard a commotion and therefore was ready in case one got through into the room, which of course did happen.

No-one can argue with the fact that the woman had absolutely no right to be in the room, so anyone was perfectly entitled to eject her quite forcefully.

At the point when it happened, none of those present would have had any idea of her motives or intentions, so swift decisive action was called for, which happened.

Maggiemaybe Fri 21-Jun-19 16:57:18

the same people supporting Brexit are supporting this thug

Your presume far too much, BlueBelle. Wrongly, in my case.

PernillaVanilla Fri 21-Jun-19 17:01:13

Strange he was the only one to act in this way. his face was contorted with rage and e banged her up against the pillar. Clearly an assault on any view, he should be sacked from his post.

BlueBelle Fri 21-Jun-19 17:10:40

Yes I guess I shouldn’t have said ‘all’ maggiemaybe but there are certainly a lot of posters names that I recognise

So many supporters are saying there is nothing wrong with ejecting her forcefully some saying she was rightly frogmarched out but that’s not what happened he jumped up with anger etched in his face he grabbed her threw her very forcefully against a pillow, then physically turned her and frogmarched her with his hand on her neck
All he needed to do was stand up before her which would have prevented her moving forward and say ‘Madam you need to turn back’ and then wait for security to kick her outThat would be the adult manly thing to do He Assaulted her and I can’t believe that people feel the need to defend a vicious out of control man

CyclingKnitter Fri 21-Jun-19 17:18:42

PernillaVanilla, you're completely right. This was obscene behaviour. As someone who has experienced violent domestic abuse, it sent such a chill through me: a violent man, completely out of control, with a totally disproportionate response to a situation in the attempt to demonstrate his power. His face was horrendous. (And please, no "whataboutery" - it's tiresome.)

Those who defend this assault should be downright ashamed of themselves.

trisher Fri 21-Jun-19 17:19:46

Just watched the video again and there are 2 women who approach him as he shoves the woman out. He ignores them. He could have passed responsiblity for removing the woman to these women who were staff. I suspect he was enjoying himself too much and it's yet another example of how he treats women.

CyclingKnitter Fri 21-Jun-19 17:19:59

BlueBelle hit the nail on the head (using words, rather than violence, which is what he should have done).

Greta8 Fri 21-Jun-19 17:20:36

A disgusting display of aggression. You could clearly see that he was barely in control of himself, his face was contorted with rage. A very inappropriate and excessive way to deal with a protester. All those people on here defending him, how would you feel if that was your daughter or granddaughter protesting, and she was manhandled like this?

Ilovecheese Fri 21-Jun-19 17:21:17

lemongrove That was Walter Wolfgang and he was not heckling Jeremy Corbyn, it happened before Jeremy Corbyn was leader.
* Grannygravy13* Mark Field not Frank Field, as has already been pointed out.

gillybob Fri 21-Jun-19 17:21:36

I’m definitely a remainer ( would give anything to call Brexit off ) but I fully support Mark Field’s actions . No one knew what this idiot was up to . She could have easily been a terrorist threat. He acted promptly and as others have said he is not police trained to deal with this sort of thing.