Cabinet ministers had to be escorted by
police as they left parliament on Saturday, as anti-Brexit protestors heckled them with boos and shouts of “shame on you”.
Andrea Leadsom alleged she received “frightening” abuse shortly after MPs voted to delay a vote on Boris Johnson’s deal, and demonstrators could be heard shouting “shame” as Jacob Rees-Mogg and his young son passed the
protesters on London’s Millbank.Jacob Rees-Mogg and his young son are escorted through Westminster by police to chants of “shame on you” from protestors. pic.twitter.com/flbkc4lupB— Tom Boadle (@TomBoadle) October 19, 2019Similarly, police could be heard urging people to leave Michael Gove alone as he negotiated the crowds, PA Media reports. Flanked by police Michael Gove not answering questions about the vote pic.twitter.com/YX2gbieWR6— Jason Farrell (@JasonFarrellSky) October 19, 2019After the encounter, Leadsom tweeted: “Thank goodness for our superb police. Just walked home safely from HoC with their protection – why do the so called ‘People’s Vote’ protesters think it’s ok to abuse, intimidate and scream in the face of someone they don’t agree with?
“So frightening, and so grateful to the police,” she added.Thank goodness for our superb police. Just walked home safely from HoC with their protection - why do the so called ‘People’s Vote’ protesters think it’s ok to abuse, intimidate and scream in the face of someone they don’t agree with? So frightening, and so grateful to the police— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) October 19, 2019Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was also filmed being targeted by pro-Brexit demonstrators who asked if she was wearing “Jeremy Corbyn’s slippers” and told her “it’s about time we stopped all this”.Her
Labour colleague Dawn Butler responded to Leadsom: “Hi Andrea, Glad you and Michael got back home safely.
“I also felt intimidated by the
Brexit supporting crowds shouting. The police thankfully cornered them off.
“I think it’s important that we encourage all side to disagree respectfully. And MPs watch our language and tone.” Hi Andrea Glad you and Michael got back home safely. I also felt intimidated by the Brexit supporting crowds shouting. The police thankfully cornered them off.I think it's important that we encourage all side to disagree respectfully. And MPs watch our language and tone. https://t.co/cuqAzdJcfu— (((Dawn Butler MP))) (@DawnButlerBrent) October 19, 2019In an historic Saturday sitting, the Commons voted by 322 to 306 to compel the prime minister to write to
Brussels to extend the UK’s membership of the EU from October 31 to January next year.
The vote means that Johnson’s ‘do-or-die’
Halloween deadline can now be breached if Brexit legislation is not passed in the next fortnight.
Make sense of politics. Sign up to The Waugh Zone, our weekday evening briefing.
MPs backed an amendment by Tory grandee Sir Oliver Letwin which delays the PM’s plan for a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote on his EU divorce proposals.
But after the vote, Johnson vowed to defy MPs, insisting: “I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so.Related... Here's What Happens Now That
Boris Johnson Has Been Forced To Request A Brexit Delay Brexit: Boris Johnson Defiant Despite MPs Voting To Force A Delay