Rees-mogg: ‘I did not fear violence from masked university protesters’
Conservative MP Jacob Reesmogg has told a parliamentary committee he did not fear violence when he was confronted by masked protesters at a university meeting.
The North-east Somerset MP made clear he was not bothered by being heckled at the event at the University of the West of England in Bristol, but described the use of masks as “sinister” and said he was concerned that MPS should not feel they need security when appearing in public.
The arch-brexiteer was giving evidence to a hearing of Parliament’s joint human rights committee, which is carrying out an inquiry into freedom of speech in universities.
A video of Mr Rees-mogg intervening to stop a scuffle at the event last week was widely shared on social media.
But he told the committee that the images made the disruption to his speech caused by a group of around six shouting people appear “much more dramatic than it was”.
“They don’t want me to be heard, that’s the point of their protest,” he said.
“I think a protest of that kind is perfectly legitimate. I think that as a politician, you should expect that people may come and heckle.
“People coming along and shouting at you, people heckling, is part of political life and to be honest as a politician a bit of heckling can make your speech.”