‘Weed’ Rees-Mogg refuses to run as violent students scream abuse
PA Jacob Rees-Mogg may not look like a champion of the country’s free speech, but he showed true grit
The Tory MP who dubbed himself “a weed” after the fracas at the University of the West of England in Bristol, refused to back down yesterday when bully protesters interrupted his speech by screaming abuse and throwing punches. Video footage posted to social media captured Mr Rees-Mogg walking over to the students and even separating rivals as things turned violent. The Conservative, who has been tipped as his party’s next leader, said he chose to engage with the protesters because he “knew they weren’t going to hit me”. Adding he was “a complete weed”, but was “absolutely fine”. The MP for North East Somerset, had been speaking at the University’s Politics and International Relations Society when a group of protesters came into the back of the lecture theatre and started shouting anti-Conservative rhetoric at him.
He then approached them and walked up to the back of the theatre where they were and tried to talk them down. But at that point various other members of the audience got involved and a scuffle broke out and the Tory MP got pushed and shoved. One man even attempted to throw a punch. However, Mr Rees-Mogg stood firm. Following the fight, the Tory MP went ahead with his speech as planned and was escorted back to his car, a university spokesman said. MPs from all parties have condemned the protesters for trying to shut him up and hailed him a hero of free speech. Universities Minister Sam Gyimah branded the protesters’ behaviour “thuggish”, tweeting: “Free speech under the law is fundamental to our democracy. Well done @Jacob_Rees_Mogg for not being cowed into silence.”
PA Video footage posted to social media captured Mr Rees-Mogg separating rivals as onlookers watch
Extremely disappointed that a genuine opportunity to engage in debate was nearly thwarted by thuggish behaviour. Free speech under the law is fundamental to our democracy. Well done @Jacob_Rees_Mogg for not be cowed into silence. — Sam Gyimah MP (@SamGyimah) February 2, 2018
Conservative MP Conor Burns wrote: “Free speech is the corner stone of a free society. “That and exchange of ideas should thrive on any University campus. What was done to @Jacob_Rees_Mogg today by masked moronic hoodlums was an attempt to silence free speech and should be condemned by all in politics.” Labour’s Yvette Cooper, chair of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee tweeted: “This is appalling. No excuse for violence & aggression like this.” Labour’s Angela Rayner posted: “My politics are not those of @Jacob_Rees_Mogg however l utterly condemn the behaviour of those tonight who tried to attack him whilst he was due to speak at an event he was invited to. “It’s extremely intimidating for any MP who travels alone to an event to be treated like this.” The university’s Politics and International Relations Society, which organised the debate, said it was “sorry the event was overshadowed by the actions of a few non-students”, adding: “It detracts from the great attitude that UWE students have towards debate and challenging political opinions.”
My politics are not those of @Jacob_Rees_Mogg however l utterly condemn the behaviour of those tonight who tried to attack him whilst he was due to speak at an event he was invited to. It's extremely intimidating for any MP who travels alone to an event to be treated like this ������ — Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) February 2, 2018
Mr Rees-Mogg has played down the fight. He told The Telegraph: “They shouted no platform for Tory scum and other insults, but I’m of the sticks and stones school of thought.” “I wanted to stop anyone being hit because the whole thing would have degenerated. “I didn’t think anyone was going to hit me so I felt quite safe intervening.” “There were three hundred people here who wanted to engage in a serious debate and discussion, there were four or five people who wanted to shout – but they only wanted to shout.”
PA The Conservative MP, who has been tipped as his party’s next leader, said he chose to engage