A senior British politician has been suspended after a video emerged of him tackling a female Greenpeace activist, grabbing her neck and pushing her up against a pillar during the speech by the Chancellor Philip Hammond in London last night.

Mark Field, MP for Cities of London and Westminster has been suspended as a Foreign Office minister while police investigate. He claimed that he felt threatened by the protester and was worried she might have been armed.

Field has since apologised to the protester and referred himself to the Cabinet Office.

Outgoing PM Theresa May has seen the video and No10 spokeswoman confirmed: “The Prime Minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning.”

Opposition MP and Shadow Women & Equalities Secretary Dawn Butler described Field’s actions as “horrific”. However some colleagues leapt to his defence with MP Johnny Mercer tweeting, “Honestly? Try being in our shoes in the current environment. He panicked, he’s not trained in restraint and arrest, and if you think this is ‘serious violence’, you may need to recalibrate your sensitivities. Calm down, move on, and be thankful this wasn’t worse.”

Opposition MP Tonia Antoniazzi tweeted: “Mark Field should resign and be arrested. I don’t care in what order.

“No one who reacts like this to a peaceful protest should be sitting in our parliament.”

Greenpeace campaigner Areeba Hamid told the BBC the activist was "in shock" but was encouraged by the "outpouring of support" online.

Hamid said: "I think Mark Field should have a long hard stare at himself and think whether that behaviour is in keeping with someone in public office."

The female activist was one of several Greenpeace members protesting over climate change at the annual dinner where the Chancellor and senior politicians meet with London financiers and business grandees. </s> A British government minister has been suspended after he was caught on video pushing a female Greenpeace activist, then grabbing her by the neck and marching her out of a banquet in London. Dozens of climate-change protesters gatecrashed a speech from Chancellor Philip Hammond on Thursday and refused to leave. Mark Field took it upon himself to grab one of the female activists and Greenpeace has now accused him of assault. “I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologize to the lady concerned for grabbing her,” said the lawmaker, saying he feared she may have been “armed.” Greenpeace climate campaigner Areeba Hamid told the BBC the unnamed activist was “in shock” over the incident, and said it was “quite ludicrous” for Field to suggest that she might have had a weapon. Prime Minister Theresa May said the footage was “very concerning” and suspended Field from his ministerial duties. </s> LONDON: A British minister was suspended on Friday after he was filmed physically removing a climate change protester from a dinner in London.

Mark Field accosted the female activist as she walked towards finance minister Phillip Hammond, pushing her against a column before frogmarching her out of the room.

Prime Minister Theresa May's office said it had suspended the junior Foreign Office minister. "The prime minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning," Downing Street said.

"He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place." Police said they were following up on a "small number" reports of an assault.

Greenpeace activist Areeba Hamid said she was "shocked at the footage of an elected MP and government minister assaulting one of our peaceful protesters".

Field told ITV that he "deeply" regretted his actions, saying that "in the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table".

"There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed."

The Conservative politician has referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation. London Mayor Sadiq Khan called Field's actions "unacceptable" and urged him to "consider his position".

Labour MP Jess Phillips called the footage "so, so awful" while fellow Labour MP Dawn Butler said it was "horrific" and called for Field to be sacked or suspended.

But Tory MP Peter Bottomley argued that "the woman clearly was trying to create a fuss" and that "most viewers would say it's good that she didn't succeed". Greenpeace said 40 of its activists had interrupted the event. </s> Greenpeace accused British minister Mark Field of assault after the Conservative politician was filmed physically removing a climate change protester from a dinner in the City of London.



Field accosted the female activist as she walked towards finance minister Phillip Hammond, pushing her against a column at Mansion House before holding her by the neck and frogmarching her out of the room.

Greenpeace activist Areeba Hamid said she was "shocked at the footage of an elected MP and government minister assaulting one of our peaceful protesters."

Field told ITV that he "deeply" regretted his actions, saying that "in the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table.

"There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed."

The junior Foreign Office minister has referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation.



Labour MP Jess Phillips called the footage "so, so awful" while fellow Labour MP Dawn Butler said it was "horrific" and called for Field to be sacked or suspended.

But Tory MP Peter Bottomley argued that "the woman clearly was trying to create a fuss" and that "most viewers would say it´s good that she didn´t succeed."

Greenpeace later said 40 of its activists had interrupted the event. </s> A spokeswoman for UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that Mark Field, a senior foreign policy official, has been suspended from his job pending an investigation into his disturbing encounter with an intruder at a posh bankers dinner.

"The prime minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning," the spokeswoman said on Friday.

A woman, one of a few dozen Greenpeace protesters who interrupted a speech by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond, was passing behind Field's chair as he suddenly stood up and grabbed her by the neck to march her away.

Mark Field, who has been serving as Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign Office since 2017, later explained that he acted so out of security concerns.

"There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed," he said. "As a result I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible."

Several Labour and Tory lawmakers have called on the government to sack Field, while outraged activists launched an online petition demanding the same, which has racked up over 8,000 signatures as of the writing.

Following public backlash, he went on to refer himself to the Cabinet Office to investigate whether he had breached the minsiterial code of conduct. </s> Mark Field has been suspended as a Foreign Office minister after grabbing a female Greenpeace activist at a black-tie City dinner.

The MP has apologised for confronting Janet Barker and marching her away as protesters interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond.

But he said he had been “genuinely worried” she may have been armed.

Ms Barker told the BBC Mr Field should “reflect on what he did” and suggested he “go to anger management classes”.

“He certainly manhandled me in a way in which was very disagreeable,” she said, but added that she did not intend to complain to the police.

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said there were also “very serious questions to be asked” about security, as a “large number” of protesters had apparently managed to “walk through” to the event at London’s Mansion House.

Footage of the incident involving Mr Field has been widely shared on social media, with several Labour politicians calling for him to be sacked.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said Prime Minister Theresa May had “seen the footage” and “found it very concerning”.

She added that Mr Field had “referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and the Conservative Party. He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place.”

Climate change protesters – wearing suits, red dresses and sashes with “climate emergency” written on them – entered Mansion House on Thursday night, as Mr Hammond was beginning his speech on the state of the economy.

One of them began reading an alternative speech.

As Ms Barker walked past his table, Mr Field stood up, stopped her and pushed her against a column.

The Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster then put a hand on the back of her neck and led her out of the room. </s> United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday suspended senior politician Mark Field after a video showed him manhandling a protestor at an event in London, BBC reported. The assault took place on Thursday when Field, who is Britain’s minister of state for Asia and the Pacific, was at a black-tie event.

Field attacked a demonstrator from Greenpeace United Kingdom when she had interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond. Field said he had reacted instinctively. “There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed,” ITV quoted Field as saying. “As a result, I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.”

Field said he has referred himself to the Cabinet for an inquiry into the incident, and apologised to the woman. “I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologize to the lady concerned for grabbing her, but in the current climate I felt the need to act decisively to close down the threat to the safety of those present,” he added.

At Thursday’s event, dozens of activists showed up wearing red suits, red dresses with sashes that said “climate emergency”, and then refused to leave. The video shows Field getting up from his chair and stopping a female protestor by pushing her against a pillar. He was also seen grabbing her by the neck and escorting her out of the room while the woman says “it was a peaceful protest”.

Greenpeace tweeted on Friday that the activist was doing fine. “She’s had a good sleep and is doing fine,” Greenpeace UK said. “We’re looking after her. Thanks so much for your love and concern everyone. We’re sharing positive messages with her.”

A spokesperson of the prime minister said that Field will remain suspended while the investigation is on. “The Prime Minister has seen the footage and found it very concerning,” a spokesperson told CNN. “The police have said they are looking into reports over this matter and Mark Field has also referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and Conservative Party.”

The spokesperson further added that the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team would investigate whether there had been a violation of the ministerial code. The London Police said that it was looking into “a number of third-party reports of a possible assault” against the minister.

Opposition party leaders condemned Field’s actions with some calling for his resignation. “It is truly shocking to see this kind of behaviour from an MP,” Independent quoted London Mayor Sadiq Khan as saying. “Violence against women is endemic in our society and this behaviour is unacceptable. He should consider his position.”

However, some Conservative MPs defended their colleague. “I think there’s no reason to criticise Mark Field...Of course it wasn’t an assault, it was a reversal of direction,” said politician Sir Peter Bottomley. </s> A minister has been suspended after he was filmed manhandling a Greenpeace protester at a dinner at Mansion House last night.

The Prime Minister’s Spokesman confirmed that he would be suspended while investigations take place into the incident.

The Foreign Office minister came in for criticism after he physically removed a climate change protester identified this morning as Janet Barker.

Several protesters interrupted the black-tie event as Chancellor Philip Hammond gave a speech.

Mrs Barker revealed that ‘[staff] at the venue did not ask them for any identification documents before allowing them in.

‘More than 40 people tried to get in but a few were locked out when the security staff realised what was happening.

‘The men in the group were accepted as guests but the women were later challenged as to why they were there.’

Mrs Barker, a rabbit wool knitter and support worker who lives in rural Wales according to MailOnlinesaid that she expected some resistance but ‘not being pushed against a pillar and being held at the back of the neck.’

Her husband added on Facebook: ‘All fine, she’s taking down the government one Tory at a time.’

Mr Field referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation and apologised ‘unreservedly’ to the protester.

He said: ‘In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted.

‘There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed.

‘As a result I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.’

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning.

‘The police have said they are looking into reports over this matter and Mark Field has also referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and the Conservative Party.

‘He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place.’

During the dinner, dozens of Greenpeace activists sought to draw attention to the climate crisis.

A group of protesters, mostly wearing red and wearing sashes with the words ‘climate emergency’, tried to ‘drown out’ Hammond.

Greenpeace UK said: Instead of assaulting peaceful women protesters, Mark Field would be better off spending his time tackling the climate emergency.’

They tweeted: ‘Update on Greenpeace activist at the Mansion house peaceful protest: She’s had a good sleep and is doing fine. We’re looking after her. Thanks so much for your love and concern everyone. We’re sharing positive messages with her.’

MPs responded with shock to the footage.

Dawn Butler MP tweeted: ‘I’m sure I’m not the only one who is wondering why no one intervened. So much violence does not seem justified. An investigation needs to take place as soon as possible.’

However, Johnny Mercer MP said: ‘Honestly? Try being in our shoes in the current environment. He panicked, he’s not trained in restraint and arrest, and if you think this is ‘serious violence’, you may need to recalibrate your sensitivities. Calm down, move on, and be thankful this wasn’t worse.’ </s> A minister has been suspended after he was filmed manhandling a Greenpeace protester at a dinner at Mansion House last night.

The Prime Minister’s Spokesman confirmed that he would be suspended while investigations take place into the incident.

The Foreign Office minister came in for criticism after he physically removed a climate change protester from a dinner.

Several protesters interrupted the black-tie event as Chancellor Philip Hammond gave a speech.

Mr Field referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation and apologised ‘unreservedly’ to the protester.

He said: ‘In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted.

‘There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed.

‘As a result I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.’

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: ‘The Prime Minister has seen the footage and she found it very concerning.

‘The police have said they are looking into reports over this matter and Mark Field has also referred himself to both the Cabinet Office and the Conservative Party.

‘He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place.’

During the dinner, dozens of Greenpeace activists sought to draw attention to the climate crisis.

A group of protesters, mostly wearing red and wearing sashes with the words ‘climate emergency’, tried to ‘drown out’ Hammond.

Greenpeace UK said: Instead of assaulting peaceful women protesters, Mark Field would be better off spending his time tackling the climate emergency.’

They tweeted: ‘Update on Greenpeace activist at the Mansion house peaceful protest: She’s had a good sleep and is doing fine. We’re looking after her. Thanks so much for your love and concern everyone. We’re sharing positive messages with her.’

MPs responded with shock to the footage.

Dawn Butler MP tweeted: ‘I’m sure I’m not the only one who is wondering why no one intervened. So much violence does not seem justified. An investigation needs to take place as soon as possible.’

However, Johnny Mercer MP said: ‘Honestly? Try being in our shoes in the current environment. He panicked, he’s not trained in restraint and arrest, and if you think this is ‘serious violence’, you may need to recalibrate your sensitivities. Calm down, move on, and be thankful this wasn’t worse.’
British Foreign Office Minister Mark Field is suspended for assaulting a Greenpeace activist.