The inquiry into former Foreign Office minister Mark Field for grabbing a female Greenpeace protester has been quietly dropped by new Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Mr Field was suspended last month after he was recorded grabbing a Greenpeace activist by the neck as she attempted to disrupt a black tie dinner.
Mr Field referred himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation after he faced a huge backlash over his actions.
But today the government confirmed a Cabinet Office investigation into Mark Field’s conduct has been closed after he was sacked in Boris Johnson’s reshuffle.
A No10 spokesman said: “Mark Field has now left the Government. The current PM considers this issue was a matter for the previous PM concerning his conduct during his time as a Minister under her appointment.”
The Mirror has contacted the Conservative Party to establish if their separate investigation into Mr Field’s behaviour is ongoing.
Footage of the incident, which quickly spread online, showed protester Janet Barker passing behind the MP’s chair. He then stood, shoved the woman against a pillar by her neck, and appeared to push her away out of the room.
(Image: ITV)
The incident erupted last month when 40 climate change activists gatecrashed a banquet for bankers and politicians in London’s Mansion House – forcing Chancellor Philip Hammond to break off a speech.
Police said they were looking into the incident and Theresa May watched the footage, which she found “very concerning”.
Protester Janet Barker was among a group of activists wearing sashes reading ‘climate emergency’. She later said: “I’d quite like him to go on anger management.”
In a statement at the time Mr Field said: “A major security breach occurred at the dinner I attended last night when a large number of protesters suddenly and noisily stormed into Mansion House.
“In the confusion, many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the table I instinctively reacted.
(Image: BBC)
“There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed.”
He continued: “As a result, I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.
“I deeply regret this episode and unreservedly apologise to the lady concerned for grabbing her but in the current climate I felt the need to act decisively to close down the threat to those present.”
