Fury at security farce
Tories and police blame each other over prankster who targeted May
ACCUSATIONS flew between the police and Tories last night over who was to blame for the security fiasco at the party conference.
Senior Conservatives tried to point the finger at officers for disruption during the Prime Minister’s speech.
They said the police failed to flag up that notorious prankster Simon Brodkin – who handed Theresa May a mock P45 form – already had a caution when he was vetted for a conference pass. However police claimed it was not their job to look at whether he was a ‘reputational’ – rather than security – risk to the party.
It is understood they knew about his history but did not believe it was serious enough to ban him from the event.
A furious row was also raging over how Brodkin managed to get so close to the Prime Minister once in the conference hall. Scotland Yard provides Mrs May with a close protection team, but no- one stopped Brodkin approaching the podium.
Lord West, a former security minister and head of the navy, said last night: ‘It was pretty slapdash that anyone could be so close to the PM.
‘It is unforgivable that no one was down there as close protection.’ The force last night refused to answer questions about the incident.
A major inquest is under way after Brodkin was able to bypass local security teams and Mrs May’s close protection officers during her speech on Wednesday.
The former BBC comedian, who uses the stage name Lee Nelson, was not immediately tackled to the ground and remained in the hall for over a minute.
He was also given accreditation to attend the Manchester conference despite receiving a conditional caution in 2013. The caution came after he disrupted a Premier League football game by posing as a player.
While a caution is technically not a criminal conviction, it can show up in criminal record checks.
Greater Manchester Police were responsible for vetting those who wanted to attend the conference – and senior Tories said the force had never flagged up Brodkin’s past.
Last night, GMP confirmed a review was under way into how the prankster gained entry to the conference. But officers suggested that checks focused on whether an individual could pose a risk to high profile politicians, not whether they could present a ‘reputational’ risk.
One former officer said: ‘I would imagine Simon Brodkin was not the only person in that room with something which would show up on a full criminal records check.
‘The only job of the accreditation system is to ensure the safety and security of those inside the venue.
‘At a highly charged political event there are many people who might be tempted to misbehave. Conference organisers must vet the list for those that pose this risk.’
Conservative MPs will hold a conference ‘post-mortem’ at the 1922 Committee next Wednesday, where they will discuss security flaws.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Superintendent John O’Hare said: ‘We will be reviewing the accreditation process with the Conservative party. Even with accreditation, everyone at the conference goes through airport-style searches.’
Last night Brodkin made light of the incident.
Appearing on stage at Nottingham’s Glee Club, he told the audience that he got so close to Mrs May he had caught her cold.
BBC Three would not comment on whether Brodkin would be allowed to do future shows with them.
‘Tempted to misbehave’