Jacob Rees-Mogg blasted an Extinction Rebellion (XR) protester who stage bombed a speech he was giving today (May 15) by slamming him with a "loony" remark. The North East Somerset MP had his speech disrupted by an activist during the National Conservatism Conference in London.
Shortly after he started speaking, a man joined Rees-Mogg at the lectern and told the audience "I would like to draw your attention to a few characteristics of fascism". The MP then said to the climate activist "you can have loony conference next week".
It was not the only disruption of the day as two more XR activists targeted a speech made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman a few hours later. The Conservative MP had just started talking when a man stood up in the middle room in the conference room and identified himself as an XR member.
Read more: Women 'kicked and thrown to the ground' in 2.30am attack
He was swiftly bundled out of the building by security guards. But the drama did not end there as moments later, a woman stood up and started questioning the Home Secretary.
She was also removed from the room by security. Ms Braverman appeared to brush off the incident and received applause when she quipped: "Anyone else? It’s audition day for the shadow cabinet."
During her speech, Ms Braverman said the state cannot "legislate away" differences, but can create a level playing field. "One thing we do not wish to conserve is someone’s life circumstances," she said.
"One cannot legislate away differences in work ethic, not natural endowments. Instead, conservatives seek to level the playing field so more people have an opportunity to improve their lot."
The Home Secretary also said Conservatives are "sceptical of self-appointed gurus, experts and elites". Ms Braverman said: "Common sense and a shared understanding of who we are and what really matters in life have vastly more to recommend themselves than does anything that emanates from an ivory tower.
"Measuring diversity only on the basis of skin colour, sex and sexuality is mindbogglingly myopic. Identity politics is the politics of grievance and division."
She also joked that opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer could become "Labour's first female Prime Minister". The Home Secretary said: "Conservatives must always be honest with the public. Honest about our principles and honest about our priorities.
"In that way, we distinguish ourselves from the leader of the left, Sir Keir Starmer. He opposes today the things he stood for yesterday, that he’ll change his mind on tomorrow and he’ll campaign on next year as a man of great principle.
"Although given his definition of a woman, we can’t rule him out from running to be Labour’s first female prime minister."
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