‘Shrill idiots’ waving Palestinian flags grapple with security as they rush car of Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg
SECURITY guards grapple with protesters as they hound senior Tory MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Activists waving Palestinian and Communist flags hurled abuse and rushed his car as he left an event at Cardiff University on Friday.
Conservative chairman Richard Holden described the incident as “shrill intimidatory idiocy”.
The Welsh Underground Network, which took part, bragged: “Mogg left under a barrage of our anger at his very existence.”
But Sir Jacob said: “It was a legitimate, if noisy, protest.”
One man was held for having a swastika placard and a second for alleged racist remarks at a Gaza protest in London yesterday.
Jo Stevens, Labour’s shadow Welsh secretary, said: “Concerned by footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s treatment by protesters in Cardiff.
“I disagree with him on almost everything, but we cannot accept a culture of intimidation in our politics.
“The right to lawful protest is sacrosanct, but harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.”
The protest was organised by Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists, with the former tweeting afterwards: “We helped organise a demonstration against this imperialist politician.
“We managed to block the doors, shutting them inside for several (hours).
“Mogg left under a barrage of our anger, anger at his zionism, anger at his cruelty to the working class, anger at his very existence.”
Sir Jacob was filmed being bundled into a security vehicle, as one protester draped himself over the car’s bonnet before being pulled away by guards.
The Tory former Cabinet minister said: “The Cardiff University security team was exemplary in allowing a lawful protest while keeping everyone safe.
“Universities ought to be bastions of free speech and as both the protesters and I were able to give our views without fear or intimidation the proper traditions of adversarial debate were upheld.”