Rees-Mogg chased off campus by demonstrators
JACOB REES-MOGG was chased from Cardiff University by pro-Palestine protesters on Friday evening after speaking at its Conservative association.
The Tory MP was filmed being harassed by a crowd of demonstrators as he departed the event and was rushed by security into a waiting car.
Video footage shows Mr Rees-Mogg surrounded by protesters shouting “Tory c--t” and “shame on you” as they waved the flags of Palestine and the Revolutionary Communist Party.
The protests had been organised by Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists, two activist groups, that claimed Mr Rees-Mogg was a “Zionist”.
Richard Holden, the Chairman of the Tory party, said the “morons” had engaged in “shrill intimidatory idiocy”.
He said: “How silly of these morons – whatever they think their cause is, they do it a disservice.
“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.”
Nigel Farage said the “disgraceful behaviour” showed universities have become “no-go zones for free speech”.
He added: “Left-wing academics have caused so much of this.”
Mr Rees-Mogg had been speaking in a lecture theatre at an event organised by the university’s student Conservative and Unionist Association.
The video footage shows him flanked by eight security guards as he was ushered into a car owned by the university and then being driven away from the demonstration.
One protester had attempted to cling to the car’s bonnet in a bid to stop the vehicle leaving before a security guard pulled them off.
In literature advertising the protest, Welsh Underground Network said it opposed all politicians speaking at the university to protect students’ “wellbeing”. But the hard-Left group singled out Mr Rees-Mogg as “one of the most pervasive capitalists, bigots and Zionists in the UK”.
It added: “Mogg is a notable imperialist, and has routinely given his approval to the Zionists in ‘Israel’ to continue their slaughter of Palestinians. He is therefore complicit in this genocide.”
Jake Enea, the vice-president of the university’s Conservative and Unionist Association, said: “This does not represent the people of Cardiff and Cardiff University. Truly disgraceful and I hope Jacob Rees-Mogg is OK.”
One student who attempted to attend the event said he had been prevented from entering the event by the protesters, who he said included members of the public, mothers with small children and members of the university’s Communist society.
“These far-Left, anti-democracy bullies stopped my attendance despite me obtaining tickets,” he said.
“I arrived at the lecture theatre five minutes early but the security guards made it clear we would not be allowed to enter until the mob had cleared off.
“The Communist society was attempting to strike a deal with the security where if they let one of their student protesters in, the rest of us who wanted to attend would be let in as well. Security declined this offer.”
Sir Jacob praised security guards and told The Sunday Telegraph: “It was a legitimate and peaceful if noisy protest.
“The Cardiff University security team was exemplary in allowing a lawful protest while keeping everyone safe.
“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.”
A Cardiff University spokesman said it had a “commitment to freedom of speech” and would “investigate and take appropriate action against any student” who had mistreated Sir Jacob.
“We expect our students to behave in a way that respects the university community, as well as members of the public and visitors,” he said.
“We have procedures in place to investigate and take appropriate action against any student who falls short of this expectation.”
The spokesman added: “It’s vital that we enable students to invite external speakers to discuss issues within the law, and with respect and tolerance.”
Jo Stevens, the shadow Welsh secretary, condemned the protesters.
She said: “Concerned by footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s treatment by protesters in Cardiff.
“I disagree with him on almost everything, but we cannot accept a culture of intimidation in our politics.
“The right to lawful protest is sacrosanct, but harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.”
‘The right to lawful protest is sacrosanct ... harassment and intimidation is [not] acceptable’