MP Mark Field grabs female protester by throat

I think they’re both in the wrong.

Followed by he looked vicious, more like a bodyguard

There was a male MP stabbed by a female some years ago.

I don't like Field and think he is a thug, but given that the lady was trying to access the speaker on the podium, and no-one knew if she was armed, then I think his response is heavy handed but understandable.

If he has lain his hands on women before then that is appalling, but it doesn't mean that what he did will be classed as assault by the police.

There is lots of looking at the situation with the benefit of hindsight on this thread. At the time, the people present may have been scared and angry. Trespassing and trying to get to someone is not "peaceful protest".

It has everything to do with what Field believed to be the case at the time. If he knew FOR SURE that she was unarmed then he could be seen to be disproportionate. But given that most men don't manhandle women on a regular basis, it doesn't surprise me that he overestimated the amount of force necessary.

The man is an arsehole anyway, but I think to equate subduing and removing a protester (who may have been an armed terrorist for all those present knew) with domestic violence is really unfair.

, i didn’t say I thought it was ok...

In fairness, you gave a good impression of doing just that:

he could easily of believed an attack was imminent, he didn’t use excessive force

In the context of the clip, it is very likely that he will use that as a defence, i didn’t say I thought it was ok.... I said I don’t think he’ll be charged. I didn’t once suggests you could go around attacking ppl willy nilly. Being quite ridiculous now. I was just giving a fact of law

Actually that is a defence when being/or not being charged with assault

Simply 'beleiving' someone is a threat does not constitute a defence. If so, anyone could say they 'believed' that someone was a threat and walk out scot free. The defendant has to prove to the authorities that he/she believed there was an imminent threat and acted propotionately. It will be up to the police to decide if that was the case here. You can't just say "Oh I thought she was going to attack me so I can do what I like".

Actually that is a defence when being/or not being charged with assault

Yes it is.

Actually that is a defence when being/or not being charged with assault

, he could easily of believed an attack was imminent,

You don't get off the hook because of what you might 'of' believed. I might believe the lady in Tesco's is out to get me. Wouldn't give me the right to assault her.

he didn’t use excessive force.

That will be for the police to decide.

So what if he's angry? I'd be bloody angry!

Have you thought about anger management classes?

Also, she walked past several people before getting to Field, who was right at the end of the table. None of the others seemed bothered by her, probably thought of her as an irritation more than anything else.

Why did he in particular react in this way?

It's those picturs that bother me most. He is trying to reach her phone, I think. But he doesn't seem bothered by the fact that he has to almost reach down the fronnt of her dress to do so. He doesn' seem to have any of the normal male squeam about grabbing / touching women's breasts.

That lack of 'propriety' is really telling. Anyone who has been the object of a 'touchy' man's unwanted attention knows how that feels, what kind of man that is!

I don’t think he’ll be charged, he could easily of believed an attack was imminent, he didn’t use excessive force. But I agree. He looked pretty vicious, more like a trained body guard

The point is that his actions were done from anger, not fear.

I get angry now and then. I don't manhandle other people as a result.

Do you?

Teachers can use their bodies to block a student. If a teacher used this type of force on a student, including hulking 16 yr olds. They would be getting their P45.

I'm finding this argument that the woman is blameless and conflating it with domestic abuse really really problematic.

Nobody has said she was blameless, have they? Just that his actions were disproportionate

And the domestic abuse comments seem to occur more often after posters see the picture of him 'welcome' Jeremy Hunt's wife!

Field is no respector of women...

So what if he's angry? I'd be bloody angry!

He overreacted for sure but in the current climate you'd have to be hard of thinking not to understand why.

What 'current climate'? If you're referring to Jo Cox then that was horrible but it was 3 years ago and there have been no similar incidents since.

You are to all extents and purposes excusing his actions. She wasn't approaching him personally and showed no signs of being dangerous. This was an event with high-profile people, including the Chancellor, present. There would certainly have been professional security people there who could have dealt with the intrusion appropriately.

This was not appropriate.

I'm most definitely not a newbie. I'm finding this argument that the woman is blameless and conflating it with domestic abuse really really problematic.

He overreacted for sure but in the current climate you'd have to be hard of thinking not to understand why.

Both are to blame as other pps have said.