The latest headlines in your inbox
Dominic Raab has been branded a “coward” by the friends and family of teenage crash victim Harry Dunn who were hoping to confront him at a hustings.
Tim Dunn, Harry’s father, was unable to enter the event held in the Esher and Walton constituency due to overcrowding, which led to him and other supporters heckling the Foreign Secretary outside.
A crowd booed and called Mr Raab a “coward” as he left East Molesey Methodist Church in an official car on Monday evening, after the event where he and other candidates aimed to appeal to local constituents.
Mr Dunn, whose son died almost three months ago, and Harry’s mother Charlotte Charles have previously been critical of the Tory candidate. They have been calling on voters to unseat Mr Raab in the General Election over their frustration at his handling of their son’s case.
Harry was killed when his motorbike was involved in a head-on crash with a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27.
Anne Sacoolas, the motorist allegedly responsible for the crash, claimed diplomatic immunity and was allowed to return to the US, sparking an international controversy.
Harry’s family hoped to put pressure on the Foreign Secretary at the hustings in Surrey, but they and other supporters were kept outside of the packed venue, which saw many attendees without a seat.
A member of staff at the church said the decision was related to fire safety.
Following questions on the NHS, Brexit and foreign policy, a local resident stood up to address Mr Raab during his closing statement.
Rebecca Little, who lives in Cobham, said that she has been following the events on social media.
The 44-year-old said she chose to ask Mr Raab about the case on behalf of Harry’s family, claiming that they were prevented from entering the event by his security.
“I was shut down by the shouting when I stood up but I could see other people in the audience saying, ‘Come on, let them in’,” she said.
“There were several security detail preventing the family from coming in but they have a right to enter the hustings.
“When Raab’s heavies are preventing them coming in, I believe the people in there had a right to know.”
Mother-of-two Ms Little said she had confronted the Foreign Secretary over the issue of food banks at a previous hustings.
Signs calling for Harry’s family and friends to be allowed to enter were held up against the church door, which was monitored by staff.
There were chants of “let us in” with more than 50 people outside.
During the visit to the constituency on Monday evening, Mr Dunn had hoped to call on voters to back Monica Harding, a Liberal Democrat candidate hoping to unseat Mr Raab.
Asked why he thought Mr Raab did not speak to him, Mr Dunn told reporters: “I think he doesn’t want to give me the answers I need.
“There’s things going on, we’re not quiet about it, we think the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) and the FCO (Foreign Office) are talking and delaying tactics.
“I just don’t understand why it’s taking so long. We’ll keep going and answering the questions and hopefully get there soon.”
Northamptonshire Police, who were not told Mrs Sacoolas had left the UK, have handed a file of evidence to the CPS after interviewing the 42-year-old in the US.
The family of 19-year-old Harry have been fighting for action in a three-month saga that saw the case taken to the White House.
A claim by the family, which alleged that the granting of diplomatic immunity to Mrs Sacoolas was “wrong in law”, was met with strong resistance from the FCO.
Mr Raab has previously defended the decision by the FCO to “seek costs” for any legal action.
Additional reporting by PA
