An inquiry into the conduct of Tory MP Mark Field has been scrapped, a No10 spokesman confirmed today, adding it was a matter for “the previous PM” to deal with. Mr Field left Mrs May’s Government in a clear-out of ministers by new Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who considered the matter closed. The spokesman said: “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.”
Mr Field was suspended as a junior Foreign Office minister last month pending an investigation into the incident, in which he was filmed grabbing a female climate change demonstrator by the scruff of the neck and marching her out of the room.
A video emerged showing him grab a female climate change protestor and push her against a pillar in Mansion House, where Chancellor Philip Hammond was due to give a speech.
At the time of the incident in June, Mr Field claimed he reacted “instinctively” and referred himself to the Cabinet Office for an investigation.
In a statement Mr Field said: “A major security breach occurred at the dinner I attended last night when a large number of protestors suddenly and noisily stormed into Mansion House.
“In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protestor rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted.
“There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed”.
The Chancellor’s Mansion House speech is an annual event attended by leading business figures, and addressed by the Chancellor and Governor of the Bank of England.
He apologised to the woman for “grabbing her”, but Greenpeace accused Mr Field of assault.
The altercation happened when 40 protestors from Greenpeace UK interrupted the event and stormed the room dressed in red.
Greenpeace said its supporters, who wore red sashes emblazoned with the slogan “climate emergency”, had been planning to deliver their own speech.
