Sir Norman Tebbit stopped by police after 'running over tourist's foot' outside the Houses of Parliament

This is the moment former cabinet minister Sir Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police – after he apparently ran over a tourist’s foot in his car outside Parliament.

Video footage of the aftermath shows a furious elderly Dutch tourist lashing out at Margaret Thatcher‘s former trade secretary on Monday.

Sir Norman, 87, was briefly spoken to by an officer before being allowed on his way whilst the angry pedestrian argued with the policeman.

The entire episode was caught on camera by David Clews, 36, who was filming a live video on the Brexit protests for his Facebook page.

Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)
Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)

In the clip he immediately recognised the driver of the black Chrysler Grand Voyager as the former Chingford MP Norman Tebbit.

Mr Clews continued to film as he approached the entrance to a members car park outside the Houses of Parliament just after midday.

From a distance, the video shows the car stopping, reversing, and then the elderly man getting up from the floor ahead of the vehicle.

Sir Norman, who is now a Conservative peer in the House of Lords, served under Margaret Thatcher as both Secretary of Employment and Secretary for Trade and Industry in the early 80s.

Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)
Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)

Speaking on the video, the cameraman said: “Someone’s just been run over. Someone’s just been run over.

“The guy just ran over someone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Norman Tebbit. No it’s not Norman Tebbit is it?

“Is that? It’s Norman Tebbit. Are you Norman Tebbit?

“You just ran over someone.”

Sir Norman Tebbit, pictured her attending the funeral of Baroness Thatcher at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, in 2013. Video shows Sir Norman being spoken to by police after apparently running over a man’s foot outside the Houses of Parliament. (PA)
Sir Norman Tebbit, pictured her attending the funeral of Baroness Thatcher at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, in 2013. Video shows Sir Norman being spoken to by police after apparently running over a man’s foot outside the Houses of Parliament. (PA)

When he is asked if he is Norman Tebbit, the pensioner appeared to say: “Pardon?”

He then looked away from the camera and did not confirm his identity and drove forward.

He is then stopped by the victim who comes to the open driver’s side window.

Dressed in a cream coloured coat and with a camera hanging around his neck, he told the former MP: “No you listen to me you listen to me, I looked.

“No, no, no, no, no.”

Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)
Lord Norman Tebbit was spoken to by police after appearing to run over the foot of a Dutch tourist outside the Houses of Parliament. (SWNS)

He also appeared to slap Sir Norman’s hand which was hanging out of the window during the encounter.

A woman then joins the grey-haired gentleman and spoke to Sir Norman before the uniformed officer rejoined the group.

The tourist gestured at his foot and at the car tyres as the officer asks him if he is ok.

He then said “this guy” and pointed at Sir Norman and the road while gesticulating angrily.

Sir Norman did not get out of the car during the incident and instead watched on from the driver’s seat while a police officer dealt with the tourist.

Just before he walked away from the car, the officer tapped the inside of the driver’s window and nodded at Sir Norman, who then put the car into gear and drove forward.

Speaking after the incident, Mr Clews said: “It was absolutely crazy – the things you see in Parliament Square.

“I turned around and Norman Tebbit was in this car and even though he had gone over the man’s foot he just kept going.

“The guy was shouting at him and at one point he slapped his hand.

“Usually at that car park, people pump their horn to let pedestrians know they are trying to turn in but Tebbit didn’t do that.

“The guy’s foot looked sore. I chatted to him afterwards and he told me he was Dutch and visiting London.”

Sir Norman was made chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985 but retired from cabinet in 1987.

The life peer then retired from Parliament in 1992 and has since sat in the House of Lords as Baron Tebbit of Chingford.

Mr Clews, a pro-Brexiteer had been broadcasting the protests in the area for his page Unity News Network.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said they had not been contacted following the incident.

The spokesperson said: “No complaint has been made to police. There’s not much we can do about it.”

Sir Norman has yet to comment.