The British prime minister has condemned “thugs” who accosted England’s chief medical officer.
Boris Johnson hit out after a video posted online appeared to show Professor Chris Whitty being harassed in a central London park.
“I’m shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of chief medical officer Chris Whitty,” Mr Johnson said.
“I condemn the behaviour of these thugs. Our hard-working public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.”
I’m shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.
I condemn the behaviour of these thugs. Our hard-working public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 29, 2021
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Police are investigating after the footage, lasting around 20 seconds and apparently taken in St James’s Park in central London, was shared on social media.
It shows two grinning men grabbing Prof Whitty as they shout “Oi oi” and say “One photo please?”
As Prof Whitty attempts to walk away, the men grab him again.
With a line of police vans visible in the background, a voice is heard saying “leave the gentleman alone” before the clip ends.
UK home secretary Priti Patel said she was “just horrified” by the incident and that officials are looking at support available to Prof Whitty.
Asked if he needs security measures, she told Times Radio: “I can’t speak about that but it’s important that we make sure that Chris is given the right kind of support.
“It’s terrible to see such an important public figure, someone that day in, day out, has been serving our country in the way in which he has to keep us safe, being subject to just appalling abuse.”
I’ve seen the video of the CMO being harassed. It’s appalling and totally unacceptable. The CMO works tirelessly on behalf of the country. We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour towards our public servants. The men behaving in this disgraceful way should be ashamed.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 29, 2021
England's health secretary Sajid Javid also condemned the behaviour.
“I’ve seen the video of the CMO being harassed,” he said. “It’s appalling and totally unacceptable. The CMO works tirelessly on behalf of the country.
“We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour towards our public servants. The men behaving in this disgraceful way should be ashamed.”
We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’s Park.
Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken. We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigated.— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 28, 2021
The Met tweeted: “We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’s Park. Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken.
“We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigated.”
A number of other MPs were swift to condemn those involved in the latest incident and some figures are calling for police protection for key scientific advisers during the pandemic.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi tweeted: “This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. Zero tolerance for harassing a public servant.”
This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. Zero tolerance for harassing a public servant. https://t.co/hrdHbAoBgK
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) June 28, 2021
Schools minister Nick Gibb described those responsible as “yobbos”, telling LBC that Prof Whitty has been a “first-class chief medical officer throughout the pandemic, providing very high-quality advice to Government, providing very calm advice to the public in those press conferences”.
Just seen this and it is horrible to see. Even if you perceive it as non violent it is clear that he felt awful and uncomfortable and resisted. Public figures are not dolls, they are human beings, it is stunning how easily this is forgotten. https://t.co/pKQ5fDuhKA
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) June 28, 2021
Labour MP Jess Phillips said Prof Whitty had been made to feel “awful and uncomfortable” and issued a reminder that public figures “are human beings”.
“Even if you perceive it as non violent it is clear that he felt awful and uncomfortable and resisted,” Ms Phillips tweeted.
“Public figures are not dolls, they are human beings, it is stunning how easily this is forgotten.”
It is not the first time Prof Whitty has been forced to endure public harassment.
Earlier this month, he was confronted in a street in Oxford by a man accusing him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer outside Westminster.
The incidents were filmed on mobile phones.
Prof Whitty brushed off the February incident, addressing it at a Downing Street press conference shortly afterwards.
He told viewers: “In terms of being harangued … the odd young lad showing off occasionally happens.
“I didn’t think anything of it, frankly. I was very surprised it was picked up by the media at all, as anything of any importance.”
He added that he was sure the person involved would “become a model citizen in due course”, hoping they could be more like much-admired NHS charity fundraiser the late Captain Tom Moore.
