Student mob hurls abuse at Rees-mogg
A BAYING mob that surrounded Jacob Reesmogg as he left a university has been condemned for “shrill, intimidatory idiocy”.
Security staff pushed back protesters as the MP entered a car after speaking in Cardiff.
Shouts of “shame on you”, “free Palestine” and “Tory **** ” can be heard in video footage.
One demonstrator is seen waving a Palestinian flag while others had red flags emblazoned with the Communist hammer and sickle symbol.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden wrote: “I’m sure Jacob Rees-mogg will have taken it in his stride but no elected politician should have to put up with this shrill, intimidatory idiocy.”
Labour politicians also condemned the behaviour. Jo Stevens, Shadowwelsh
Secretary, said: “I disagree with him on almost everything, but we cannot accept a culture of intimidation in politics.”
However, Sir Jacob said: “It was a legitimate and peaceful if noisy protest.”
The 54-year-old MP for North East Somerset added: “Universities ought to be bastions of free speech and as both the protesters and I were able to give our views without fear or intimidation, the proper traditions of adversarial debate were upheld.”
The former Business Secretary had been speaking at thewelsh university’s Conservative association on Friday.
A spokesman for Cardiff University said it had a “commitment to freedom of speech” but expected students “to behave in a way that respects the university community, as well as members of the public and visitors”.
Protests over the conflict in Gaza have erupted at universities across the US and dozens of students were arrested last week.