www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/09/matt-hancock-aide-altercation-hospital-campaign-visit
Tories forced into climbdown over claim aide was hit by Labour protester
Video later emerges showing adviser walking into activist’s arm
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The Tories were forced to make an embarrassing climbdown on Monday after aides briefed that an adviser to Matt Hancock had been hit by a Labour protester in an incident that it later emerged had been innocuous.
Conservative sources claimed on Monday afternoon that the adviser to the health secretary had been hit by a protester at a Leeds hospital during a campaign visit. Aides initially briefed that Hancock’s adviser was “punched in the face” and tried to point the finger at a Labour “thug”.
But a video that then emerged appeared to show the adviser walking into a protester’s arm.
When the video emerged, aides were forced to acknowledge that it looked like the adviser was hit in the face accidentally, but still tried to turn the story on Labour by claiming the activists’ behaviour and language had been unacceptable.
West Yorkshire police later said they were “unaware of any reports” of an incident involving election campaigners at the hospital
West Yorkshire Police
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@WestYorksPolice
We are aware of information circulating on social media in relation to an alleged incident involving election campaigners at Leeds General Infirmary this afternoon.
We are currently unaware of any reports of this nature but are seeking to verify.
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5:31 PM - Dec 9, 2019
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Hancock had been dispatched to Leeds General Infirmary on Monday afternoon after a picture printed on the front page of the Daily Mirror showed a four-year-old boy lying on a ward floor because of a shortage of beds.
The incident happened as Hancock was leaving the hospital after visiting senior staff to talk about the case of four-year-old Jack Williment-Barr.
They were heckled with people shouting: “Shame on you”, “we do not want you in this country” and “you are not welcome in this hospital” as they both walked to a waiting car.
Earlier in the day the prime minister cancelled an election visit as protesters gathered at the venue near Bolton.