Oh.

UPDATE: Field suspended

Mark Field facing calls to resign after minister forcefully ejects female activist in climate protest (Telegraph)

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90 thoughts on “Ah Here

  1. Jim

    I’m torn on this one. He gave her an awful hop off the wall and was very rough, no doubt about that. But, in the wake of the Joan Cox thing and all… maybe he just flipped and overreacted. You really don’t know a protester’s intent and she was initially behind him.

    1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

      Nope — he was facing her as she came up. I think he reacted in temper.
      It’s been really interesting reading the views of people to this on the BBC website.

    2. Listrade

      “You really don’t know a protester’s intent and she was initially behind him.”

      Something that Governments love to hear people say so that they can clamp down on all protest.

      I’m no expert, but i would have thought that :
      a) there was security at the entrance which would/should have been able to detect weapons, and
      b) satin/silk dresses are not the most practical attire for hiding weapons/bombs.

      1. newsjustin

        What’s your views on the Government’s in-the-works plans for restricting the right to peaceful protest in public places at medical facilities carrying out abortions Listrade?

        1. Daisy Chainsaw

          Antichoice gowls don’t have the right to harass women and girls going to their doctor or hospital. It’s bullying and intimidating and in the wake of Ana Kriegel’s bullying and isolation it’s disgusting that you support bullying and threatening behaviour towards women and girls.

        2. millie st murderlark

          What’s your opinion on posing pointedly loaded questions about a subject that really has nothing to do with the topic at hand?

          1. newsjustin

            Ah now. Listrade was making sensible comments on Govt reaction to protests more broadly. My comment was in response to that. It’s not off topic.

          2. millie st murderlark

            Your comment was very specific in response to his comment on protests and government interference/reaction. You are the one attempting to change the conversation by bringing up abortion.

          3. newsjustin

            Would you say it’s more or less off topic than bringing a murdered teenager into the discussion? Which you’ve just approved of with a +1.

            I’m broadening a conversation on Government’s response to protests.

          4. millie st murderlark

            Stop. Desperation looks bad on everybody. You’re no exception.

            I gave +1 to Andy’s comment about how awful that case was. I really don’t think I need to explain it further.

  2. Bebe

    @Jim – there’s a longer clip on the same twitter account which shows the protester approach – she presented no threat to Mr Field and she was the one taken by surprise at the attack. Mr Field should know better – he behaved appallingly – she could easily have fallen while being pushed aggressively and fractured a limb.

    1. Clampers Outside!

      “she was the one taken surprise by the attack”

      Cop on. If she was “surprised” then she clearly had no idea that what she was doing was being an intruder.
      As for “attack”, yeah, she was man handled out the door, as is what should be done to intruders (regardless of their sex).

      She was an intruder, and was turfed out. Nothing more needs be said.

    2. Termagant

      She fractured a limb?! She must be made out of actual porcelain, she had a mild bump off the pillar while he tried to figure out how to get a hold of her but leave her boobies alone and that’s the worst of it.

      1. Clampers Outside!

        @Terma
        “…could have” he said.

        I think, he means we must make judgement on what he did by what “could have” happened as opposed to what did happen. Or so it would seem.

  3. AssPants

    Holy crap………………somebody think of the women………………You can’t just stop a woman trespassing, one must sit down and negotiate with her; it’s not as if she is a man or something so utilitarian and disposable…… this is a woman for goodness sake a WOMAN

  4. Brother Barnabas

    did he say “I’m taking the thrash out” as he passed the camera

    i’m choosing to believe he did

  5. Termagant

    Nah if you gatecrash a party – doesn’t matter who you are or why you’re doing it – you’re going to be ejected with extreme prejudice. Would there be any reaction at all if it were a lad instead?

    1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

      I dunno what kind of parties you go to, but I don’t like the sound of them.

    2. millie st murderlark

      Yes, and that would be the job of the trained security personnel, not the job of a public official surely.

      Paint it however you like, but he is completely out of order.

    3. ReproBertie

      I have ejected people from functions in both a professional and private capacity and have never once needed to lay a hand on the ejectee.

      1. ReproBertie

        Ah lads, how long am I going to be on the bold stop just for asking eoin a question?

        (You’re off it now, Bertie)

        1. Al Bin Man

          there was a door person who worked in Bruxelles

          All he would have to do at closing time is come over and manically whistle beside you

          1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

            God, I used to love downstairs Bruxelles. And upstairs after rugby internationals: the Irish team used to drink there.

    4. Spaghetti Hoop

      Looking back on the parties I’ve crashed, I was clearly an asset to the proceedings and naturally dodged ejection with my charm.

    5. Ciuncainteach

      Now lads. If ye must protest, do so in the privacy of your own home where you aren’t upsetting anyone in positions of authority.

      Ye wouldn’t want to engage in a form of civil disobedience that might actually be effective.

      1. Termagant

        Protest where you want, just don’t pull a stunt and then turn around and cry victim if your deliberate attempt to upset people upsets someone and they hoosh you out of it.

  6. newsjustin

    If someone comes in to your private event (and I guess all event in a private room in a hotel are private unless otherwise stated) and you don’t want them there, and they’re disrupting a meeting, are the organisers or attendees within their rights to remove them?

    If so, it’s just a matter of whether the force used was excessive.

    I actually don’t think that was excessive. He caught the protestor, blocked them and marched them out.

    I agree with the motives of the protestor, but I don’t see much wrong here.

    1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

      I’m a bit disappointed, I have to say. I always get the feeling you are a gentleman but that man acted in a way that was extremely ungentlemanly. I can’t see how you think it’s ok. There was a roughness to him that was deeply unpleasant.

      1. newsjustin

        Honestly, I think you’re just playing the “poor woman” card there.

        The protestor/intruder was effectively removed from their private meeting and no harm was done to the protestor. They were walked out the door.

        1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

          Not really. I thought he overreacted and was too rough. I would be horrified if my Dad, brother or husband treated any woman like that. And yes, I will admit that I hold men to a higher standard when ‘handling’ women.

          1. Slightly Bemused

            That was actually the first thing that came to my mind when I heard this story on the news this morning

        2. Brother Barnabas

          i sort of see where you’re coming from, justin

          when i see behaviour like that, though, i immediately wonder how a man like that would behave if it wasn’t a room full of other people watching

          i’d wager he’s an agressive bully with temper issues

        3. Al Bin Man

          I hate agreeing with you but that’s the legally correct answer as far as I am aware. When the kerfuffle occurred at north Frederick st a few people here did say you are allowed use “reasonable force” to remove an illegal trespasser. Of course it looks bad for a fat old man to do it to a woman as is the case here. In fact it looks like you agree with that sort of behavior as you are here defending it. But you’re “right” of course.

        4. scottser

          nah, newsjustin, that was way too heavy handed and also not his place. he’ll be done for assault and be lucky if she doesn’t sue the arse of him.

      2. Boj

        Uh-oh…you’re getting the ‘I’m disappointed’ line. Now go off and think about what you said. pfft!

        fepp right off with your gentlemanly comments. A person who was not supposed to be there was kicked out…what IS the big deal? Rules were broken and consequences ensued. Is it because a man put his hands on a woman? Is it that you saw human aggression? Is that’s what’s disturbing you? Please explain.

        1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

          Yup. I hate any kind of aggression.
          Even though I come across as a real tough guy on here, *ahem* I’m quite old-fashioned where this kind of thing is concerned.

          1. Boj

            Mansplain time….Humans have lots of emotions, you gotta take the bad with the good. We need both sides! How do you expect, nay DEMAND equality when you hold women to different standards as men, or vice-versa :-)? Surprising to hear.

          2. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

            It’s down to manners, really. I’m all for equality, yes, but I expect both genders to be mannerly. He wasn’t.
            She was protesting in a relatively mannerly way: I’ve said they’d every right to kick her out. Just not that way.

        2. Al Bin Man

          Like when you buy an overpriced crap house that you can’t afford and then have to pay for it?

  7. Clampers Outside!

    Uninvited guest crashes party and people whine about the expulsion of the crasher? …seriously? If someone crashes a private party they had better have the cop on to realise they will be removed as an unwelcome intruder.

    Next!

    1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

      It’s not about expelling her: they’d every right to kick her out. It’s about how he did it, Clamps.

      1. AssPants

        You are complete correct.

        We should sit her down, make her a nice cup of tea, get some cake and buns and ask her nicely if she would be ok for us to continue with our event that you were not invited to, nor contribute to, or have any affiliation to warrant her presence.

    2. A Person

      No she was a peaceful protester. They can do wherever they want as long as they state / shout “peaceful protester”. If they are removed, the person removing them is guilty of assault and can be called all sorts of names. If the protester is a woman, then the assault is even more grievous. The “assaulter” should hang their head in shame and apologise to all his female relatives, and never look them in the eye again. Meanwhile the victim of this peaceful protest should be lionised by their small group of follow peaceful protesters.

      1. millie st murderlark

        You mean the victim who attacked another person physically instead of leaving it to security? The security personnel who would be trained appropriately to deal with these kinda of scenarios?

        1. millie st murderlark

          But it wasn’t up to him to remove her. It wasn’t up to him to decide how to deal with her.

          I don’t disagree with the fact that she was thrown out, but his behavior is certainly open to question, as is the protester.

          1. Clampers Outside!

            This whole, “leave it to security” is pants, in fairness.

            The fact the intruder got that far demonstrated that security had already failed in their duty.
            The man stepped in to cover for that failure.

            “Leave it to security” doesn’t wash, they’d already failed.

      1. A Person

        Why should he be charged with assault? If so, then she should too, as assault is defined as threatening behaviour.

    1. Slightly Bemused

      Opportunistic.He used the fact that his seat was at the narrowed point between the table and the column, unlike the others. Classic choke point .

      I think he was planning this as he was the only one to have turned his chair: it was his intention to block.

    2. Vanessa the Holy Face of Frilly Keane

      I don’t have to wonder IanOh
      The Blind Eye
      It’s an example where violence against women is not as exceptional or as out of character as society likes to let on
      It was like a norm to them in that room; a bit of argy bargy between courses – like at a family wedding

      Imagine what that man might be capable of behind closed doors without cameras and an audience

      Nobody else felt threatened because they were all on their best behaviour
      and for some
      I can guarantee
      There was a silent relief it wasn’t them getting roughed up like that

      It’s not like the lady was brandishing the neck of a broken bottle at him ffs

      There was no need or cause for anyone to lay a finger on that lady
      It’s also very sad to see no other guest at the function bother to even get up off their chair

      (I’m seeing two ladies at the end there as being organisers/ facilities staff btw)

  8. Ian-O

    Could have been worse, she could have been a 10 year old child with a rugby ball.

    Boris would have been in there like a shot to show that underdeveloped wiff waff whats wot!

    1. Farageyourpointiswhatexactly?

      Ha! I saw that clip last week. I’d forgotten he’d done that. He really is awful.

      1. Ian-O

        He’s the Nero to the UK’s status as a world power.

        I’d imagine he will be playing the Cello as the UK economy tanks, before arranging a Lordship for a donkey.

          1. Ian-O

            If he shoved it up his jacksie and farted it would immediately make him sound much more sensible and sane.

            ”O mi ano est!”

      2. Papi

        Have ye seen the Australian cop giving an interview on live TV who body tackled some lad who ran past? Pure instinct, and he dropped the lad.

        1. Bertie Theodore Alphege Blenkinsop

          And the lad who got rugby tackled was in a feckin’ Liverpool t shirt as well :)

  9. topsy

    Well done to that politician. That woman could have intended to attack him with a knife, thrown acid etc. If it had been a man he probably would have been wrestled to the ground.

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