Tory MP Anna Soubry 'felt in physical danger' when confronted by protesters outside parliament
The ex-Conservative minister tells Sky News she felt "exposed and completely left to my own devices" when facing a group of men.
Tuesday 8 January 2019 18:24, UK
Conservative MP Anna Soubry has told Sky News she felt in physical danger when faced by protesters in Westminster.
The former Tory minister was taunted with shouts of "Nazi" during live TV interviews on Monday, before being confronted by a group of men as she made her way back to parliament.
Metropolitan Police are facing demands to change how they deal with protesters who "ritually" insult and abuse MPs.
And Ms Soubry, who is a prominent campaigner for a second EU referendum, claimed police did not do their jobs in protecting her and others either on Monday, or when groups previously gathered in December.
"There was a moment when I tried to get into the entrance [to parliament]... where a man came in front of me and I didn't know who he was," the Broxtowe MP told Sky News.
"He seemed different to the others, some of whom I recognised from the incident that happened in December.
"And he was saying stuff calling me a 'fascist' or something, and he didn't seem to be with them.
"He sort of moved his hand as if he was going into his jacket and I thought anything could happen. I did feel very exposed and completely left to my own devices."
Ms Soubry added "at one point" on Monday she felt in physical danger and "completely unprotected", as she described how two police officers refused a request to escort her back to parliament.
She revealed she had used a different entrance to parliament on Tuesday because she believed the same group "might be back there".
"This is a very small group of known, right-wing extremists with history of public order offending, criminal offences, who the police can and should make sure do not continue to commit those offences," Ms Soubry said.
"And the line is very clear between when it is a peaceful, lawful protest and when it is clearly intimidating and it's designed to intimidate and shut down democracy, shut up MPs, shut up broadcasters.
"That's not this country and it's got to stop. The police have the powers to do it, they've got the legislation, they just need the will to do it."
Ms Soubry also criticised abuse directed at anti-Brexit campaigner Femi Oluwole, who was with her when she was confronted on Monday, as well as separate incidents involving Sky News presenter Kay Burley and Sky News political editor Faisal Islam.
She said the police "did not do their job yesterday and they didn't do their job in December", adding: "They did not defend Faisal Islam from racist slurs and racist abuse.
"They've not defended Kay Burley from intimidation and from obscene sexist comments."
Earlier on Monday, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow described the situation as "intolerable", "a type of fascism", and featured a pattern of "burly white men" targeting women and ethnic minorities.
He added that children visiting Westminster were "at risk of witnessing these toxic attacks".
More officers have been deployed outside parliament as a result of the recent harassment.
In a letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, Mr Bercow acknowledged police have a "difficult job" balancing the needs of protesters and the public.
But he said there was a difference between those who shouted from a distance waving placards, and those who invade an MP's personal space and subject them to "menacing, racist, sexist and misogynistic" tirades.
Mr Bercow wrote: "I politely suggest that the present situation is not only intolerable but untenable.
"Matters cannot stand as they do today. A change in policy is required."
Some 115 MPs of all parties have also written to Ms Dick urging greater action against "an ugly element" outside parliament.
Theresa May's spokesperson revealed Ms Soubry's treatment was discussed this morning at cabinet - the weekly meeting of senior ministers.
They said: "This is not how debate should be conducted in our country."
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor has promised police are "looking into all the allegations that have been made" about the harassment.
He told Sky News they are "reviewing the footage" and vowed to take "appropriate advice" on whether crimes were committed.
On Monday night, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they had "received a third-party report of a public order offence on Monday 7 January, in the area of College Green, SW1".
They added: "Officers are assessing if any crimes have been committed. There has been no arrest at this stage."