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Welsh Tory MP grapples with protestors’ banner during Liz Truss speech

05 Oct 2022 4 minute read
The demonstration during Prime Minister Liz Truss speech. Picture by Aaron Chown / PA

A Welsh Conservative MP removed a banner unfurled by protestors during Liz Truss’ speech at the Conservative party conference.

Aberconwy MP Robin Millar was seen reaching over to remove the banner saying ‘Who voted for this?’ unfurled during her speech.

Liz Truss said “let’s get them removed” after protesters disrupted her conference speech.

The protestors were Ami McCarthy and Rebecca Newsom, who both work in public affairs for Greenpeace. They said they were “holding the Government to account” for its promises on net zero.

Greenpeace confirmed that its activists were responsible for the protest during the Prime Minister’s speech at the Conservative Party conference.

Rebecca Newsom, head of public affairs at Greenpeace and one of the protestors thrown out of the Conservative Party conference, told reporters: “This year we really felt we needed to make an intervention because nobody actually voted for a lot of what Liz Truss and her Government are trying to do at the moment.

“Nobody voted for fracking, nobody voted to cut benefits, nobody voted to trash nature, nobody voted to scrap workers’ rights.

“There’s a whole host of things that the Conservative government were elected to do in 2019 that they are simply not doing and we needed to take that message and represent the public and actually push for Liz Truss to remain true to what the public has actually asked her and her Government to do.”

The demonstration during Prime Minister Liz Truss speech. Picture by Stefan Rousseau / PA

Rebecca Newsom added that the fracking ban was “a complete joke”.

Rebecca Newsom told reporters: “The protest was very much about the U-turn on the fracking moratorium that is a complete joke and the public doesn’t want that to happen and it makes absolutely no sense on climate terms either.

“You saw yourself in the video before Liz Truss walked on there was a big focus on new oil and gas in the North Sea.

“That’s not going to cut bills, that’s not going to give us energy security and it’s rubbish for the climate so absolutely we are concerned about that as well.”

‘A new era’

Liz Truss’ speech at the Conservative party conference lasted just under 35 minutes – the shortest in-person conference speech by a Tory prime minister this century.

Boris Johnson made a shorter speech in 2020, lasting a little over 27 minutes, but this was delivered remotely using video, because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The next shortest in-person speech was the one made by Mr Johnson at the 2019 Conservative party conference, which lasted 40 and a half minutes.

Liz Truss told the Tory conference to “trust me to do what it takes” to push through her “difficult but necessary” pro-growth agenda.

The Prime Minister said: “We will build roads, rail, energy and broadband quicker.

“We will be proudly pro-growth and pro-aspiration and pro-enterprise.

“That is how we will forge ahead on our long-term path to national success.

“In this new era, we’re taking a new approach.

“My friends, we’re focused on boosting growth and opportunity across our country.

“This mission will be difficult but it is necessary.

“We have no alternative if we want to get our economy moving again.

“I’m ready to make the hard choices.

“You can trust me to do what it takes.”

Liz Truss vowed to “stay the course” as she closed her first Conservative Party conference speech as leader.

The Prime Minister said: “The status quo is not an option. That is why we can’t give in to the voices of decline.

“We can’t give in to those who say Britain can’t grow faster. We can’t give in to those who say we can’t do better.

“We must stay the course.

“We’re the only party with a clear plan to get Britain moving. We’re the only party with the determination to deliver.

“Together, we can unleash the full potential of our great country.

“That is how we will build a new Britain for a new era.

“Thank you.”


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Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
2 years ago

People in Aberconwy, you now know that your MP is against the environment, doesn’t like free speech and will actively stand against the right to protest.
If you vote for him again, that means YOU personally endorse him and his anti-democratic ways.

Argol fawr!
Argol fawr!
2 years ago
Reply to  Cathy Jones

Robin Miller well knows the unaffiliated voted against Corbyn at the last election, and as they didn’t have any other way of keeping him out, for a tory. Any tory. Hence we have him as an MP. Such is the rubbish electoral system Westminster has.

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

That bit of a demo was probably the only moment of honesty and truth during the entire speech. Shame on Millar brawling with 2 women. Real tough guy! Will boost his image among the misogynist wing of his party. Probably prefers his women to come fully kitted with a penis.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Oooh, I can feel a civil case for assault being processed as I type.
He is not a steward let alone a licensed security person so his acting as a “bouncer” is a criminal offence.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

Why does he only own one tie? Unless he bought a discount batch this is the same one from his official unshaven photo.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

A bit of Pro Bono work by Mr Llwyd maybe…

Valerie Matthews
Valerie Matthews
2 years ago

If she had any backbone or faith in her ‘message’ she would have said ‘let them stay’ THAT would have shown Leadership! Instead she stands there. preaching to the converted . clapping like a bunch of trained seals. Any Tory with any sense, stayed away!

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago

“Welsh” Tories among the most fanatical. Put this photo be on our election pamphlets!
And prepare from today.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

Tory MPs have form for manhandling female Greenpeace protesters, back in June 2019 Mark Field had one by the throat. This needs a visit from the police, but not the Met obviously…

Last edited 2 years ago by Mab Meirion
John
John
2 years ago

Edrych fel dyn sy’n gyfforddus i ymosod ar ferched.

Maglocunos
Maglocunos
2 years ago

Manhandling and bundling hecklers out of political events is a bit fascistic you know, tories.

Don’t re-elect this not-so gentle ‘gentleman’ next time, dear people of Aberconwy.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  Maglocunos

Walter Wolfgang, aged 83, was bundled out of a New Labour conference during a Jack ‘the liar’ Straw speech in Brighton in 2006 for shouting ‘nonsense’…It was as much a Union Jack fascist event as any Al Johnson Tory do, Tony ‘der fuhrer’ Blair had his moments too…

David Smith
David Smith
2 years ago

These nasty little imperialist right wingers sing the hymn sheet of freedom of expression, small government and laissez-faire, but only within their precisely defined parameters. C/_/nts they are.

seico7
seico7
2 years ago

Robin Millar sydd gyda’i ‘primary residence’ llai na 1/4 milltir o’n nhy yn Gerlan,Bethesda. Does na neb wedi gweld Robin (primary residence) Millar,yn Gerlan, ers ddiwadd y pandemic!!! Mae’n well gan Robin Glâs fwy 1/2 awr i ffwrdd ar gôst i’r trêth dalwyr.
c*c oên o’r raddfa uchaf..

Robin Millar who’s primary residence is 1/4 of a mile from my house in Gerlan, Bethesda. No one has seen Robin (primary residence) Millar, in Gerlan, since the end of the pandemic!!!!
Robin Blue Chest prefers to live 1/2 an hour away at the tax payers expense.
1st class prick.

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