BERCOW BRANDS PARLIAMENT PROTESTS ‘FASCIST’
COMMONS Speaker John Bercow has described the abuse and harassment of MPs outside Parliament “a type of fascism” and called for a change of policing policy.
He said recent incidents, including Tory MP Anna Soubry being verbally abused on Monday, were “intolerable”.
More than 60 MPs have called on police to improve their response to abusive protesters.
The Metropolitan Police have said they are ready to “deal robustly” with any instances of criminal harassment.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the force was continuing to assess whether any crimes had been committed, following a third-party report of a public order offence on College Green, opposite the Houses of Parliament.
He said: “Our role is to facilitate peaceful protest and balance the needs and rights of all those present, including protesters, MPs and members of the public.”
Ms Soubry was shouted at and called a liar and a Nazi during live TV interviews on BBC News and Sky.
The former minister was later called “scum” and jostled as she tried to re-enter the Palace of Westminster.
She criticised police for not intervening and called for the protesters to be prosecuted.
College Green – the area opposite Parliament – is regularly used by media to interview MPs, as well as being a popular site for protesters to gather.