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Five arrested after Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith ‘hit on head with traffic cone’ in Manchester
The MP said he was ‘big enough and old enough to know when something like this happens, you just carry on’
Five people have been arrested after Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith was allegedly hit across the head with a traffic cone yesterday, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed.
The former Tory party leader was walking to a meeting down Portland Street when a group of people followed him, allegedly calling him ‘Tory scum’. Duncan Smith told the BBC: “They then decided to follow me and started shouting abuse, such as ‘Tory scum’ and any other reason they could think of.
“I carried on walking and when I was getting close to the place [where I had a meeting] someone came up with one of those rather heavy traffic cones and tried to smack me with it in the back of the head.”
Duncan Smith said he managed to grab a hold of the cone before it hit him on the head, but the group continued with their ‘expletives’, adding: “I then went into a meeting so I didn’t see what happened next but I understand a police officer had been following them, and I gave a statement later.”
A video posted to Twitter – said to be filmed shortly after the cone incident – shows Duncan Smith being followed down the street as someone shouts ‘Tory scum’ to the banging of a drum.
He later said he was ‘fine’, adding: “I am big enough and old enough to know when something like this happens, you just carry on.”
GMP has since confirmed that three men and two women have been arrested in connection to the alleged attack, with the force saying in a statement: “Following a short foot pursuit three men and two women have been arrested in connection with it, and remain in custody for questioning.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
The incident comes after thousands of Mancunians descended upon the city centre to protest the annual Conservative Conference, which is being held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex.
Protestors have been calling for various reforms, including to social care and policing, as well as issues caused by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants to ‘build back better with decisive action on more jobs, more police and supporting health and social care.’