‘I was at the end of my tether’, says MP who swore at Downing Street protestors

Andrea Jenkyns appeared to make a rude sign with her hand as she walked through the black gates to Downing Street
Amy Gibbons9 July 2022

Andrea Jenkyns has claimed she was “at the end of my tether” after she was swore at a crowd outside Downing Street.

Ms Jenkyns, who made a rude gesture to the crowd as she entered Downing Street for Boris Johnson’s resignation speech on Thursday, said she was standing up for herself in front of what she called “a baying mob”.

She said: “On Thursday afternoon I went to Downing Street to watch the Prime Minister’s resignation speech.

“A baying mob outside the gates were insulting MPs on their way in, as is sadly all too common.

“After receiving huge amounts of abuse from some of the people who were there over the years, and I have also had seven death threats in the last four years.

“Two of which have been in recent weeks and are currently being investigated by the police, I had reached the end of my tether.

“I responded and stood up for myself. Just why should anyone have to put up with this sort of treatment.

“I should have shown more composure but am only human.”

Prior to her statement, Commons Leader Mark Spencer said it was up to Ms Jenkyns to “justify” her actions after she was caught on camera appearing to make a rude gesture while entering Downing Street.

Mr Spencer, a former chief whip, said he does not believe the gesture was “the right thing to do at all”.

Asked if it is acceptable, he told BBC Breakfast: “No, I don’t think it is, to be honest. I don’t seek to condone that at all.

“I mean, Andrea will have to justify that for herself. But I do understand emotions were running pretty high and they were pretty raw on that day. But I don’t think that was the right thing to do at all.”

Pressed on whether she should retain her ministerial role, he said: “That’s not my decision.”

Ms Jenkyns was appointed to the role of parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Education on Friday in a reshuffle by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The footage, shared on social media on Thursday evening, appears to have been filmed shortly before Mr Johnson announced he was stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party.

It is unclear who the gesture was aimed at.

The education minister was one of the MPs to show support for Mr Johnson outside No 10 on Thursday as he announced his resignation.

A timetable for the Conservative Party leadership contest is expected to be drawn up next week after the election to the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee.

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