Greenpeace activist grabbed around the neck by Tory MP Mark Field says he should ‘go on anger management course’

The woman who was grabbed around the neck by Tory MP Mark Field has been named as Greenpeace activist Janet Barker, who today called for him to attend an anger management course.

Ms Barker was identified as Mr Field was suspended from his ministerial duties over his behaviour at the City dinner on Thursday.

Ms Barker, from Wigan, was one of a number of Greenpeace protesters who interrupted Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Mansion House speech when she was stopped in her tracks by Foreign Office minister Mr Field and marched out of the room.

She told the BBC today that Mr Field’s actions were “over the top” and that he should attend an anger management course.

Asked if she expected resistance, Ms Barker – who said she is not pressing charges against Mr Field – said: “Yes, but not to the extent which I received.

“I expected to maybe engage in a conversation or two with people, perhaps people blocking my way. But certainly not to be grabbed round the neck.”

Asked what she thought about Mr Field’s suspension, she said: “I think it’s just the result of his actions. They were pretty much over the top. I was simply walking past his chair.”

She said there were 350 people in the room and that “only one person reacted that way”, adding: “I want him to reflect on what he did and not do it again. Maybe he should go to anger management classes.”

Her husband Peter wrote online after the incident: “All fine, she’s taking down the government, one Tory at a time.”

Meanwhile, the BBC earlier quoted Ms Barker as saying of security at the door: “[Staff] at the venue did not ask them for any identification documents before allowing them in.

“More than 40 people tried to get in but a few were locked out when the security staff realised what was happening.

“The men in the group were accepted as guests but the women were later challenged as to why they were there.”

Her Facebook profile is filled with posts in support of environmental causes including Extinction Rebellion, the campaign movement which led 11 days of travel disruption in London in April.

As well as sharing an event invite for the launch of its Brecon branch in February, she has also attached the group’s logo to her previous profile pictures.

Sharing one picture of a man labelled as a fox hunter being attacked by a stag, she posted, alongside a winking emoji face, “karma in action”.

Ms Barker has also posted pictures of her blocking fracking sites in Lancashire.

Mr Field’s actions have been angrily condemned by thousands of people, including MPs, as calls grew for him to resign.