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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Man-handling climate change protestors

999 replies

Leafyhouse · 20/06/2019 23:17

Anyone else watch with horror as a climate change protestor was forcefully removed by Mark Field from the Mansion House speech? I mean, I'm no fan of political activism, 'direct action' and so on, but she wasn't presenting him with any direct threat, just shouting and being annoying. AIBU to think that his behaviour was totally unacceptable there?

OP posts:
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FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 17:49

If he thought she had been armed he would have restrained her hands and called/looked around for backup. He didn't do any of these things. He didn't think she was armed.

^This. He just wanted to chuck her out

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 17:53

He wanted to chuck her out because trespasser, I suppose.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 17:54

He wanted to chuck her out because trespasser, I suppose.

Outrageous!

bellinisurge · 21/06/2019 17:56

You are all absolutely right. Male Tory MPs have no right to get freaked out by protesters and to behave stupidly. Particularly if those protesters are female and particularly if we subsequently learn they are protesting about climate change. That absolves people of any criticism.Hmm

Just so we are clear: I have no doubt he acted horribly.

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 17:57

It is, pretty much. As a pp pointed out, he doesn’t own the Mansion House, he had no right to chuck her out.

MissEliza · 21/06/2019 17:57

I feel sorry for Frank Field MP because he's getting blasted on Twitter by lots of ignorant idiots!

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 17:58

It is, pretty much. As a pp pointed out, he doesn’t own the Mansion House, he had no right to chuck her out.

It's a proper legal education on this thread Grin

IcedPurple · 21/06/2019 17:58

Male Tory MPs have no right to get freaked out by protesters and to behave stupidly.

They can get 'freaked out' (bless 'em) and behave 'stupidly' (I'd use a different word personally) but they'll also have to take the consequences for their stupidity and freaking out behaviour.

bellinisurge · 21/06/2019 18:01

Yep, he'll take the consequences. If the police find there is enough evidence to pass to CPS and CPS decide to take a prosecution forward, he will.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 18:02

Yep, he'll take the consequences. If the police find there is enough evidence to pass to CPS and CPS decide to take a prosecution forward, he will.

Well said that woman

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 18:02

He’ll take the consequences anyway. I imagine he’ll get fired.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 18:04

It's been a massive PR disaster for him.

Darkcloudsandsunnydays · 21/06/2019 18:05

Green peace protesters have experienced far worse than this. Having a whaling ship shooting an explosive harpoon over your head for one.

The forthcoming extinction event is inevitable.

Why are MN not bothered is a mystery.

The I hate bloody cyclists thread attracted masses of replies.

LakieLady · 21/06/2019 18:06

She may well have been carrying a weapon.

And where might she have been carrying this weapon? In her teeny, tiny handbag? Hidden inside her mobile phone, which was (iirc) in her right hand, or among the leaflets that were in her other hand?

She had a lightweight, sleeveless dress on which came to just below her knees. Unless it was tucked into her underwear, I'm blowed if I can see where she might have hidden a weapon.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 18:07

Why are MN not bothered is a mystery.

Because video Grin

(Or lack thereof)

mbosnz · 21/06/2019 18:08

I absolutely loved the line of the protester as quoted by Guardian, "all I was armed with was peer reviewed science" - no wonder this oik was scared. . .a woman with an opinion, backed with peer reviewed science - terrifying!

thethethethethe · 21/06/2019 18:09

He's lying about thinking she was armed. A liar as well as a bully.

Idontwanttotalk · 21/06/2019 18:11

I do not think it was OTT at all. She was an intruder and politicians need to be protected from members of the public who may do them harm. Where the hell was security?

If that person had stabbed or shot a politician people would be asking how the hell it happened.

It was a stupid thing to do in terms of a protest anyway as the government have already announced the intention to have zero net emissions by 2050. It was therefore pointless.

I'm glad the person isn't pressing charges. It was NOT assault. It was a natural reaction to an unexpected event. He may have had his hand on the person's neck but it wasn't in the front so it isn't as if he grabbed them by the throat!

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 18:14

It was assault and the police may still bring charges.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 18:18

It was assault and the police may still bring charges.

Alleged assault, Also, alleged!

mummmy2017 · 21/06/2019 18:38

If she was just a poor innocent woman minding her own business....
How come the fancy dress outfit...
How come her words he panicked..
She was trying to get to Hammond..
How do we know he wasn't going to be attacked, and she just failed to reach him ...
After all easy to deny as she was stopped before she could act....

Isatis · 21/06/2019 18:42

How do we know he wasn't going to be attacked, and she just failed to reach him ...

Oh, come off it, there were numerous other women like her in the room, none of whom were attacking anyone. No other guest felt the need to act like this, so they obviously didn't perceive the protestors to be a physical threat at all.

IcedPurple · 21/06/2019 18:42

How do we know he wasn't going to be attacked

Because she was unarmed.

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 18:43

It wasn’t fancy dress. It was a red frock.

mummmy2017 · 21/06/2019 18:43

Since when do you need a weapon to attack someone....

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