Security increased at Parliament after intimidation of politicians
POLICE HAVE agreed to increase security near Parliament amid concerns over threatening and abusive behaviour by protesters, MPs have heard.
John Bercow said the assurances were received following a meeting with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.
Steel barriers were erected outside the Carriage Gates entrance to Parliament yesterday.
Scotland Yard said the force has increased its presence around the estate in the run-up to the vote on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal on Tuesday.
The Commons Speaker earlier this week urged police to tackle the “aggressive, threatening and intimidating behaviour” towards politicians and journalists, hitting out at the “toxic attacks” in a letter to Ms Dick.
His intervention came after several incidents, including one which saw Tory former Minister Anna Soubry branded a Nazi by a mob during television interviews.
After Labour’s Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) raised concerns that a charity pancake race involving MPs and journalists would be cancelled, Mr Bercow told the Commons: “Clearly it is a magnificent cause and I’m very sorry to hear of the news of the postponement or cancellation, and the rationale behind that decision.” He said he and others hosted Ms Dick in Parliament on Thursday.
Separately, Winston Churchill’s grandson revealed yesterday how he is “regularly called a traitor” for his pro-EU views.
Tory former Defence Minister Sir Nicholas Soames told of the abuse as he pleaded with MPs to back Theresa May’s deal “warts and all” to avoid “chaos”.
Sir Nicholas, who has represented Mid Sussex for more than 20 years, said “dignity, reason and calm” must be restored to the debate “both inside and outside the House”.
And veteran Tory Ken Clarke, who as longest-serving male MP is Father of the House, said the ongoing Brexit debate is being dominated by Eurosceptic voices, which he says go against the general opinion within the Conservative Party.