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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked at the lack of security around the Prime Minister?

52 replies

Tissunnyupnorth · 04/10/2017 19:09

Just watched TM giving her conference speech this afternoon. This thread is NOT about the politics or personalities, Labour, Tories and so on. Was anybody else surprised that a prankster managed to get into the hall, walk right up to the podium and stand there for quite a while trying to hand TM a joke P45? Where was her security? Does the Prime Minuster (whoever it might be) not deserve to be protected?

OP posts:
Oldie2017 · 04/10/2017 19:11

You would hav thought that just like the royals there would be some big chap or woman very close by ready to pounce. It certainly was surprising.

The80sweregreat · 04/10/2017 19:11

I totally agree. It was awful. He could have had a gun or a weapon or anything. It was shameful.

Pengggwn · 04/10/2017 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DamnCommandments · 04/10/2017 19:12

He will have been scanned and patted down and credentialed. There was no danger of weapons.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 04/10/2017 19:13

Well we all deserve to be protected.

DamnCommandments · 04/10/2017 19:14

I guess he had journalist credentials.

BakerCandlestickmaker · 04/10/2017 19:15

Agreed.

derxa · 04/10/2017 19:20

Yes it was awful

Tanith · 04/10/2017 19:21

My favourite moment was when the sign behind her did an ‘F’ off...

Ivy79 · 04/10/2017 19:21

Hmmm, I was a bit shocked, but as has been said, he didn't present any danger.

I normally find stuff like this annoying and pathetic, but I have to admit, it did make me laugh a bit.

This man was the man who plays cockney Lee Nelson isn't it? Some slightly bitchy people on social media earlier, were saying he did this because his comedy career has been in the shitter for 4 or 5 years now. Wink

I believe Theresa May said (a bit later,) she is getting a P45 ready for Jeremy Corbyn, but that could be fake news. Grin

To be shocked at the lack of security around the Prime Minister?
NashvilleQueen · 04/10/2017 19:22

Especially given it was in Manchester and after recent events .... I wondered if gmp were still angry after that speech she gave when she was Home Sec to the police federation...

derxa · 04/10/2017 19:29

I admire TM for carrying on today and Amber Rudd for ordering BJ to get up and applaud.

ArcheryAnnie · 04/10/2017 19:33

He couldn't have had a gun. Visitors, and indeed everyone going to party conferences, now have to go through really, really strict security.

He got close-ish to the PM with a piece of paper with "P45" printed on it.

(It's all the backbenchers who are at real risk, as they do constituency surgeries and political meetings day to day usually with no security or screening at all. I don't envy them.)

squoosh · 04/10/2017 19:39

Yeah I think some people are being a bit OTT about this. He had the necessary credentials required for entry and would have gone through security with everyone else. He couldn't have had a gun or weapon. He could and did have a piece of paper.

The80sweregreat · 04/10/2017 19:44

It was still awful though. Just puts the UK in a bad light. I was shocked. Someone should have bundled him off long before they did too.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 04/10/2017 19:44

I agree with you Derxa re Amber Rudd, she was the only one who bloody well did anything.

squoosh · 04/10/2017 19:45

The whole speech was awful............yet oh so entertaining.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 04/10/2017 19:46

But he could have attacked her with his fists.

No one should beable to get that close to the PM. It's disgraceful.

ceeveebee · 04/10/2017 19:53

He would not have been allowed to take weapons in. He would have had to be searched and scanned
The security around the building is very tight, there is a ring of steel and lots of armed police and snipers on rooftops.

ZaphodBeeblerox · 04/10/2017 19:55

But on the flip side it's just a piece of paper. Aren't we happy we live mostly in a country where it is safe for even a prime minister to not need to be kept so isolated from "normal people" via a massive security detail all the time? Also I'm sure he was quite clearly not presenting a physical threat - if he has approached her with balled up fists I imagine someone would have reacted a lot faster?

Original poster
Tissunnyupnorth · 04/10/2017 20:05

A pen can be a weapon, a fist, teeth, a bag. Just because he didn't have a gun or a knife doesn't mean he couldn't have caused an injury. My point though, was that when he did appear to be trying to get close to the PM, there was not a quick security reaction. I don't think, oh well, he couldn't have got a weapon in anyway, actually addresses the issue.

OP posts:
squoosh · 04/10/2017 20:06

He did seem to be able to hang around for a long time.

ComingUpTrumps · 04/10/2017 20:06

I'm really surprised as well. I thought it was awful and felt it was really unfair (and dangerous). I thought TM dealt with it really well, especially as she was coughing quite a lot during the speech and seemed a bit under the weather.

OlennasWimple · 04/10/2017 20:06

Agreed, her security detail have dropped the ball on this one

BakerCandlestickmaker · 04/10/2017 20:09

The hanging about was just bizarre. Why not just get him out at once?