'Threatening behaviour' as protesters call MP a 'Nazi' during live TV interview
The Metropolitan Police receive a report of a public order offence after the Broxtowe MP shares videos of her being confronted.
Tuesday 8 January 2019 08:09, UK
Police are investigating whether a criminal offence has been committed after an MP was called a "Nazi" and faced "threatening behaviour" outside parliament.
Anna Soubry, a prominent Conservative supporter of a second EU referendum, was taunted during live TV interviews on Monday - and then confronted by a group of male protesters as she made her way back to parliament.
Dozens of MPs have now written to the Metropolitan Police commissioner to express "serious concerns" about the "deteriorating public order and security situation" in Westminster.
In one video, filmed by anti-Brexit campaigner Femi Oluwole, Ms Soubry points to how children are present nearby, while two police officers are standing on the other side of the road.
The men are shown shouting "fascist" and "full of lies" at the politician.
Commenting on the incidents, Ms Soubry posted: "Apparently MPs & politicians are meant to accept it as part of the democratic process.
"I fail to see why journalists and technicians should be subjected to the same abuse & intimidation as the police stand by and do nothing.
"They tried to stop me getting into parliament."
Guardian journalist Owen Jones also posted a video of himself being confronted by protesters, who gathered around outside broadcasting points in Westminster.
Groups of protesters have been present around parliament in recent weeks as MPs debate the prime minister's Brexit deal.
The issue has been discussed in the House of Commons, with Tory MP Nick Boles raising a point of order about reports of "threatening behaviour of certain protesters" towards Ms Soubry.
In response, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow told MPs the police had been "made well aware" of his concerns.
He said: "I say no more than that I am concerned at this stage about what seems to be a pattern of protests targeted in particular - I do not say exclusively - at women.
"Female members and, I am advised, in a number of cases, female journalists, have been subjected to aggressive protest and what many would regard as harassment."
Labour MP Pat McFadden spoke of a "completely unacceptable level of abuse" directed at Ms Soubry and Sky News presenter Kay Burley.
Fellow Labour MP Mary Creagh told Mr Bercow that the abuse of MPs outside parliament was being broadcast on social media in order to raise funds for far-right activity.
She said: "This abuse seems to be directed specifically at women and has a strong streak of misogyny.
"And it is now being streamed on Facebook Live in order to raise revenue for these far-right people so that they can fund their trolling activities online and in the real world."
Ms Creagh urged Mr Bercow to write to social media companies so that certain accounts "can be shut down and these individuals do not profit from filming their abuse of MPs".
The speaker said he would "carefully reflect" on Ms Creagh's request.
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."