A Tory MP who manhandled a female protester after she invaded a political dinner has been suspended and is being investigated by police.
ITV News video footage shows him physically removing a climate change protester from a dinner at Mansion House, in the City of London.
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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.”
He sprung into action as Greenpeace activists, wearing red dresses and sashes reading ‘climate emergency’, interrupted a black-tie event where Chancellor Philip Hammond was delivering a speech.
Mr Field shoved the woman against a pillar, before pushing her away from the room, gripping the back of her neck.
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According to ITV, the MP has referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation and has apologised “unreservedly” to the unnamed woman.
“A major security breach occurred at the dinner I attended last night when a large number of protesters suddenly and noisily stormed into Mansion House.
“In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted,” he said in a statement to the broadcaster.
“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.
“I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologise 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 those present.
“In view of the the publicity around this incident, I am referring myself to the Cabinet Office to examine whether there has been a breach of the ministerial code, and will of course co-operate fully.”
Greenpeace’s statement read: “We were shocked at the footage of an elected MP and government minister assaulting one of our peaceful protesters at the Mansion House tonight.”
City of London police told The Guardian: “We have received a small number of third party reports of an assault taking place at the event.
“These reports are being looked into by police.
No arrests have been made.
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