Anna Soubry abuse: Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay uses 'Nazi' mob to argue against People's Vote

Bonnie Christian8 January 2019

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has faced a backlash after he suggested a “Nazi” mob who shouted abuse at MP Anna Soubry was reason not to hold a People’s Vote.

Mr Barclay said now was a time to “come together” after fierce Remainer Ms Soubry was subject to abuse as she was interviewed outside parliament on Monday.

Ms Soubry was called a “Nazi” and a “liar” by Brexiteer protesters and later followed along the street being called a “fascist.”

The Brexit Secretary said the incident showed how “divisive” the Brexit had become.

He said holding another EU referendum to break the Brexit deadlock would be “hugely damaging to our democracy; to our politics.”

“We saw in the appalling scenes outside parliament, in the way that my colleague Anna Soubry was disgracefully treated yesterday, how divisive this process has been,” he told the Radio 4 Today programme.

Britain's Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Stephen Barclay has been slammed over comments he made suggesting 'Nazi' mob was a reason not to hold a people's vote on Brexit 
AP

“And I think it is time now, after what has been a difficult period of time, to come together in the national interest - to unite behind the only deal on the table.”

Mr Barclay’s comments have been blasted on Twitter by parliamentarians.

Pro-EU campaigner and Labour MP Chuka Umunna wrote: “Disgraceful for the Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay on @BBCr4today to suggest the abuse and intimidation @Anna_Soubry was subject to yesterday is a reason not to hold a democratic #PeoplesVote.

“The notion we should be intimidated into NOT holding democratic votes is deplorable.”

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said the comments were “disgraceful, “adding: “Since when has Britain give in to fascist thugs?”

SNP MP Stewart McDonald called the response “spineless.”

“With that record it’s easy to work out why he got his job in government,” he wrote.

Greens MP Caroline Lucas added: “Ministers should be joining us in standing up to bullying & intimidation - not being complicit with it.”

After the incident, Ms Soubry said: “Apparently MPs and politicians are meant to accept it as part of the democratic process."

However, Scotland Yard insisted officers have been briefed to act robustly and to "intervene where appropriate" if they see crimes being committed against MPs.

Speaker John Bercow called on officers to do more to guard MPs and since then at least 55 parliamentarians have signed a letter to Met Police chief Cressida Dick.

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