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| Jacob Rees-Mogg involved in scuffle during university campus protest | Jacob Rees-Mogg involved in scuffle during university campus protest |
| (6 days later) | |
| Police are investigating after Jacob Rees-Mogg was caught in the middle of a scuffle at a university campus when protesters disrupted a student event in Bristol. | Police are investigating after Jacob Rees-Mogg was caught in the middle of a scuffle at a university campus when protesters disrupted a student event in Bristol. |
| Video footage posted on social media captured the scenes at the University of the West of England, which appeared to show Rees-Mogg attempting to break up a fracas between protesters and onlookers. | Video footage posted on social media captured the scenes at the University of the West of England, which appeared to show Rees-Mogg attempting to break up a fracas between protesters and onlookers. |
| Avon and Somerset police launched an investigation and appealed to witnesses to come forward with mobile phone footage to help their inquiry. | Avon and Somerset police launched an investigation and appealed to witnesses to come forward with mobile phone footage to help their inquiry. |
| The Conservative MP for North East Somerset, tipped by some as his party’s next leader, is seen as a divisive figure because of his rightwing views, including hardline Euroscepticism, opposition to abortion even in cases of rape and his belief that climate change is not worth fighting. | The Conservative MP for North East Somerset, tipped by some as his party’s next leader, is seen as a divisive figure because of his rightwing views, including hardline Euroscepticism, opposition to abortion even in cases of rape and his belief that climate change is not worth fighting. |
| He had been speaking at the university’s politics and international relations society on Friday when the protesters appeared at the back of the room, some with scarves over their faces and one wearing dark glasses. Rees-Mogg walked to the back of the hall to talk to the protesters as they shouted “bigot” and other insults. One of them replied that he was not worth arguing with. | He had been speaking at the university’s politics and international relations society on Friday when the protesters appeared at the back of the room, some with scarves over their faces and one wearing dark glasses. Rees-Mogg walked to the back of the hall to talk to the protesters as they shouted “bigot” and other insults. One of them replied that he was not worth arguing with. |
| A scuffle subsequently broke out, with Rees-Mogg caught in the middle. He later told the Telegraph he was “a complete weed” but was absolutely fine after the fracas and had “endured worse confrontations with the Guardian”. | A scuffle subsequently broke out, with Rees-Mogg caught in the middle. He later told the Telegraph he was “a complete weed” but was absolutely fine after the fracas and had “endured worse confrontations with the Guardian”. |
| “They shouted at me, but they weren’t going to hit me. They didn’t want to talk about politics, they just wanted to stop the event. I’m of the sticks-and-stones school of thought,” he said. “I wanted to stop anyone being hit because the whole thing would have degenerated. I didn’t think anyone was going to hit me so I felt quite safe intervening. I spoke afterwards. I was there for ages.” | “They shouted at me, but they weren’t going to hit me. They didn’t want to talk about politics, they just wanted to stop the event. I’m of the sticks-and-stones school of thought,” he said. “I wanted to stop anyone being hit because the whole thing would have degenerated. I didn’t think anyone was going to hit me so I felt quite safe intervening. I spoke afterwards. I was there for ages.” |
| He told the BBC: “There were 300 people here who wanted to engage in a serious debate and discussion. There were four or five people who wanted to shout, but they only wanted to shout. They weren’t physically threatening. A little bit of shouting doesn’t do anybody any harm … I take a very relaxed view of it.” | He told the BBC: “There were 300 people here who wanted to engage in a serious debate and discussion. There were four or five people who wanted to shout, but they only wanted to shout. They weren’t physically threatening. A little bit of shouting doesn’t do anybody any harm … I take a very relaxed view of it.” |
| The university said it was believed a small group of protesters, who were not students at the university and did not have tickets to the event, had broken into the lecture theatre through the back doors, before police and security were called. | The university said it was believed a small group of protesters, who were not students at the university and did not have tickets to the event, had broken into the lecture theatre through the back doors, before police and security were called. |
| Somerset police said: “We were called to the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus at about 6.30pm today following a report of a public order incident. | Somerset police said: “We were called to the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus at about 6.30pm today following a report of a public order incident. |
| “No arrests were made and an investigation is under way to see if any criminal offences were committed.” | “No arrests were made and an investigation is under way to see if any criminal offences were committed.” |
| MPs criticised the disruption. The universities minister, Sam Gyimah, labelled the protesters’ behaviour “thuggish”. He tweeted: | MPs criticised the disruption. The universities minister, Sam Gyimah, labelled the protesters’ behaviour “thuggish”. He tweeted: |
| Extremely disappointed that a genuine opportunity to engage in debate was nearly thwarted by thuggish behaviour. Free speech under the law is fundamental to our democracy. Well done @Jacob_Rees_Mogg for not be cowed into silence. | Extremely disappointed that a genuine opportunity to engage in debate was nearly thwarted by thuggish behaviour. Free speech under the law is fundamental to our democracy. Well done @Jacob_Rees_Mogg for not be cowed into silence. |
| The shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, also tweeted her condemnation: | The shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, also tweeted her condemnation: |
| My politics are not those of @Jacob_Rees_Mogg however l utterly condemn the behaviour of those tonight who tried to attack him whilst he was due to speak at an event he was invited to. It's extremely intimidating for any MP who travels alone to an event to be treated like this 👎 | My politics are not those of @Jacob_Rees_Mogg however l utterly condemn the behaviour of those tonight who tried to attack him whilst he was due to speak at an event he was invited to. It's extremely intimidating for any MP who travels alone to an event to be treated like this 👎 |
| Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said she was appalled by Rees-Mogg’s treatment. She tweeted: | Jo Swinson, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said she was appalled by Rees-Mogg’s treatment. She tweeted: |
| Appalled by scenes from Bristol today. I strongly disagree with @Jacob_Rees_Mogg on many issues, but the way to challenge is by engaging in debate - precisely what he was there to do. Deeply worrying to see violent tactics by political opponents. pic.twitter.com/JTdwkzfdum | Appalled by scenes from Bristol today. I strongly disagree with @Jacob_Rees_Mogg on many issues, but the way to challenge is by engaging in debate - precisely what he was there to do. Deeply worrying to see violent tactics by political opponents. pic.twitter.com/JTdwkzfdum |
| A post advertising the event on the Facebook page of the politics and international relations society said: “This will be a chance to talk to an experienced parliamentarian about the issues of the day, what it’s like to be an MP and how you can get there, or perhaps how exactly one pronounces ‘floccinaucinihilipilification’.” The society declined to comment on the incident. | A post advertising the event on the Facebook page of the politics and international relations society said: “This will be a chance to talk to an experienced parliamentarian about the issues of the day, what it’s like to be an MP and how you can get there, or perhaps how exactly one pronounces ‘floccinaucinihilipilification’.” The society declined to comment on the incident. |