Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has been mobbed by activists who shouted foul-mouthed abuse at the senior Conservative during a visit to Cardiff. Footage shared online shows the MP for North East Somerset being chased by a baying mob of demonstrators as he was escorted to a waiting car by eight security guards.
Protesters hurled abuse at Sir Jacob and waved Palestinian flags as security staff tried to ward off people trying to rush him. The former business secretary had been speaking at Cardiff University’s Conservative Association on Friday (April 26).
Politicians from across the political spectrum have condemned what happened to Sir Jacob, who was filmed being bundled into a security vehicle as one protester draped himself over the car’s bonnet before being pulled away by guards.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden wrote on X: “How silly of these morons – whatever they think their cause is, they do it a disservice. I’m sure Jacob-Rees-Mogg will have taken it in his stride but no elected politician should have to put up with this shrill intimidatory idiocy.”
Jo Stevens, Labour’s Shadow Welsh Secretary, said: “Concerned by footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s treatment by protesters in Cardiff.
“I disagree with him on almost everything, but we cannot accept a culture of intimidation in our politics. The right to lawful protest is sacrosanct, but harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.”
Reform UK leader Richard Tice wrote on X: “Truly disgraceful scenes at Cardiff University trying to assault Jacob Rees-Mogg. No condemnation from usually noisy Labour supporters…”
The protest was organised by Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists, with the former tweeting afterwards: “We helped organise a demonstration against this imperialist politician.
“We managed to block the doors, shutting them inside for several (hours). Mogg left under a barrage of our anger, anger at his zionism, anger at his cruelty to the working class, anger at his very existence.”
Protesters shouted “Tory c**t”, “Shame on you” and “Free Palestine”. Welsh Underground Network and Cardiff Communists claimed Sir Jacob was a zionist.
They said: “Mogg, and his ilk, are never welcome in Wales. No zionist politician should be able to walk our streets in peace. They shouldn’t be able to open their mouths without being shouted down.”
Sir Jacob said: “It was a legitimate and peaceful, if noisy, protest. The Cardiff University security team was exemplary in allowing a lawful protest while keeping everyone safe.
“Universities ought to be bastions of free speech and as both the protesters and I were able to give our views without fear or intimidation the proper traditions of adversarial debate were upheld.”
