Sorry, just to check, isn’t this the self-proclaimed ‘protect our women’ party? Robert Jenrick has issued a callous response to the viral footage of female protesters being physically attacked at the Reform Party Conference this weekend, choosing to mock and belittle them.
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Reform members assault protesters as they’re ejected from Conference
Shocking clips of the incidents emerged online yesterday. Nigel Farage’s keynote speech was interrupted several times by protesters, and a couple of them were unceremoniously bundled out of the room. However, some of the disruptors was on the end of something more than plain roughhousing.
The protesters have since been identified as members of the Climate Resistance group. Videos show a female having her hair pulled and her jaw grabbed by two senior citizens – and another woman getting hit by a walking stick. One anonymous demonstrator has since shared her ordeal with The National:
“I had people pushing me, pulling my hair and even grabbing me by the head and the jaw. There’s also other members of the group that I saw being hit with the same walking stick of the man that hit me. Thankfully, I just came out with a couple of small bruises.” | Reform Conference Protester
Robert Jenrick issues callous response to assault footage
West Midlands Police, fresh from rejecting Nigel Farage’s claims that his speech was delayed due to a ‘security threat’, have since asked witnesses to come forward with any relevant information. Though no complaint has been officially registered, the force has encouraged the victims to speak with them.
The attack on these woman makes for an uncomfortable and distressing watch. Well, not for Robert Jenrick, mind. Fresh from offering a ‘conditional resignation’ on Saturday if he didn’t achieve certain policy goals, the former Tory served up another moment of eye-rolling cringe this morning.
Speaking with Jon Sopel on Sky News, the veteran broadcaster probed Mr. Jenrick about the confrontations. The Newark MP’s response was immediate, offering a sarcastic ‘boo hoo’ and following that up by telling the women to ‘get a life’. He also suggested they would get ‘more publicity’ out of it.
Starting to think these guys aren’t the free-speech enthusiasts they so often claim to be…