Man held over Tube ‘assault’ on Hancock
Suspect, 61, was held soon after confrontation that was filmed at station next to House of Commons
A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting and harassing Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, following an incident on the London Underground. The 61-year-old was detained by officers from the British Transport Police after he allegedly challenged Mr Hancock over his handling of the pandemic at Westminster Tube station yesterday morning. A spokesman for the MP for West Suffolk described it as an “unpleasant encounter”.
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting and harassing Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, following an incident on the London Underground.
The 61-year-old was detained by British Transport Police officers after he allegedly challenged Mr Hancock at Westminster Tube station yesterday.
In a video posted online, the suspect could be seen filming as he repeatedly challenged the MP over his handling of the pandemic and the lockdown.
He could also be heard swearing in front of other passengers as a female member of Underground staff pleaded with him to stop. At one stage during the exchange, the suspect challenges Mr Hancock over lockdown and brands him a “murderer”.
Mr Hancock, who recently appeared on ITV’S I’m A Celebrity…get Me Out Of Here!, remained calm and at one stage could be heard saying: “I don’t think this aggression is appropriate.”
After getting off the train, the man appeared to follow the MP, who turned and accused him of pushing him.
The suspect, understood to be from Lancashire, was arrested soon after.
A spokesman for Mr Hancock, who represents West Suffolk, described the incident as an “unpleasant encounter”.
A spokesman for British Transport Police said they had received a report of a man being “assaulted and harassed” at the station next to the House of Commons at around 9am.
The spokesman said: “A 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of common assault and a public order offence and remains in custody.” Mr Hancock’s spokesman said: “Both Transport for London staff and the British Transport Police were fantastic.”
Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Scientific Officer during the pandemic, was subjected to harassment in the street in 2021 by a man as he walked to a health summit. At one point he even stopped beside a police van to ask if the officers could stop the man from following him.
Later that year he was confronted by two men as he walked through St James’s Park. They filmed as they jostled him and placed him in a headlock.
Lewis Hughes, 24, an estate agent, was later given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to assault. Jonathan Chew, 24, was jailed for eight weeks after admitting intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.