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Tory MP Mark Field suspended amid probe into manhandling of Greenpeace protester

Tory minister Mark Field was suspended today amid an investigation into his manhandling of a Greenpeace protester at a formal dinner, Downing Street said.

Foreign office minister Mr Field had faced calls to be sacked after footage appeared to show him pushing an activist into a pillar and holding her by the neck, after demonstrators interrupted a speech by chancellor Philip Hammond.

Prime Minister Theresa May made the decision to suspend Mr Field after viewing footage of the incident, which she found “very concerning”.

City of London Police said they were looking into a “small number” of third-party reports of an assault at the Thursday night event.

Mark Field is seen pushing the climate protester against the pillar
Mark Field is seen pushing the climate protester against the pillar
Mr Field appeared to hold the activist by the back of the neck after and escort her from the room after pushing her against a pillar.
Mr Field appeared to hold the activist by the back of the neck after and escort her from the room after pushing her against a pillar.

Protesters dressed in red had interrupted Mr Hammond’s speech at a black tie event in Mansion House, central London, wearing ‘climate emergency’ sashes.

As one female activist approached Mr Field’s table, he puts out a hand to stop her, then stands up and roughly pushes her against a pillar, seemingly by her neck.

He then starts to push her out of the room, again apparently holding the back of her neck with his hand.

Footage of the event immediately began to appear on social media after it was shared by ITV’s political correspondent Paul Brand - his two videos of the incident have been viewed more than two millions times in just eight hours.

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A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning.

“The police have said they are looking into reports over this matter and Mark Field has also referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and the Conservative Party.

Mark Field held the seat of Cities of London and Westminster with a majority of 3,148 in the 2017 election
Mark Field held the seat of Cities of London and Westminster with a majority of 3,148 in the 2017 election

“He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place.”

Mrs May, who had been at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels, is understood to have spoken to Chief Whip Julian Smith about the incident, who then informed Mr Field of her decision.

Greenpeace said that the activist removed by Mr Field, who they have not identified, “had a good sleep and is doing fine”.

Handout photos issued by Greenpeace of climate change activists being escorted from Mansion House in London where they interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond at the annual Bankers and Merchants Dinner.
Handout photos issued by Greenpeace of climate change activists being escorted from Mansion House in London where they interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond at the annual Bankers and Merchants Dinner.

Field said he reacted “instinctively” and had been “genuinely worried” that the protestor may be armed. He said he “grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible”, adding:

“I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologise to the lady concerned for grabbing her but in the current climate I felt I needed to act decisively to close down the threat to the safety of those present”.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond delivers a speech at the annual Bankers and Merchants Dinner at Mansion House in London.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond delivers a speech at the annual Bankers and Merchants Dinner at Mansion House in London.

Field has referred himself to the Cabinet Office to “examine if there has been a breach of the ministerial code and [I] will of course cooperate fully with their investigation”.

Dawn Butler, Labour’s shadow secretary for women and equalities, called for Field to be suspended at the least, writing on Twitter that: “This is horrific. Conservative Foreign Office Minister Mark Field violently grabs a woman as she protests about climate change at the bankers’ banquet. This appears to be assault. He must be immediately suspended or sacked. Due to Violence against women.”

Labour MP Jess Phillips said: “She posed no credible threat from what I can see. There is very little else that could justify this and anyone can see that this could have been done without physical contact. Every MP has to deal with protest and conflict, it is done with words. To watch this is so so awful.”

Another Labour MP, Tonia Antoniazzi, said that “Mark Field should resign and be arrested. I don’t care in what order. No one who reacts like this to a peaceful protest should be sitting in our parliament.”

Even Tory MP George Freeman tweeted that the incident looked “appallingly rough but cautioned that “before everyone rushes to instant armchair judgement can I suggest that all of us who weren’t there & don’t know what was said or done just wait a few hours to hear what those who were there say.”

Field was defended by veteran Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley, who told the Press Association that it hadn’t been an assault by the MP for Cities of London and Westminster. “The woman clearly was trying to create a fuss. Most viewers would say it’s good that she didn’t succeed,” Sir Peter said.

“He reversed her direction and she looked as though she went willingly. I think there’s no reason to criticise Mark Field… Of course it wasn’t an assault, it was a reversal of direction.”

Conservative party chairman Brandon Lewis told Good Morning Britain that the party will investigate the incident. He confirmed Mr Field had referred himself to the Cabinet Office and said: “I’ve spoken to the chief whip this morning and there will be an investigation from our end.”

He said it was “very hard to defend” the footage, adding: “It’s hard for anybody to look at that and not be astonished at what they have seen.”

But he said the investigation would look into the “full details of what happened”.

Greenpeace UK said: “We were shocked at the footage of an elected MP and government minister assaulting one of our peaceful protesters at the Mansion House tonight.”