Pro-Palestine protesters target Tobias Ellwood's family home in 'chilling scenes'

Pro-Palestine protesters target Tobias Ellwood's family home in 'chilling scenes'

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GB NEWS
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 14/02/2024

- 07:41

Updated: 14/02/2024

- 08:34

The former Middle East Minister and his two sons were inside the family's Dorset home while the demonstrations were going on outside

Up to 100 pro-Palestine protesters descended on a Tory MPs home on Monday in a "chilling" move against a former Middle East Minister.

Tobias Ellwood was at home in Dorset with his two sons when the mob accused him of supporting war crimes.


Corrie Drew, who stood as Labour's candidate against Ellwood in Bournemouth East in 2019, was among the demonstrators campaigning outside the property.

She clutched a placard which showed Ellwood with blood on his hands.

Tobias Ellwood and pro-Palestine protesters

Tobias Ellwood and pro-Palestine protesters

PA/TWITTER

It said: “Tobias Ellwood you can’t hide you’re complicit in genocide.”

The 47-year-old, who recently criticised Benjamin Netanyahu, was targeted due to his support for Israel.

Dorset Police did not intervene or make arrests but the security programme to protect MPs was put in place.

Ellwood attempted to save stabbed police officer Keith Palmer in 2017 by providing first aid during the 2017 Islamic terror attack on Westminster.

MPs have condemned last night's incident as "wholly unacceptable" and "chilling".

Alicia Kearns, head of the Commons’ Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: “It is wholly unacceptable for a public servant’s private home to be targeted.

“This has a chilling effect on political discourse, and serves only to push politicians to the point where they question whether it is all worth it, especially for their families.

"We treasure in our country that our MPs live in our communities with such a close relationship with those we represent."

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Images from the pro-Palestine protest outside Ellwood's home

100 pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside Tobias Ellwood's home

TWITER

Conservative colleague Caroline Dinenage added: “This kind of behaviour will inevitably stop prospective MPs stepping forward.

"Nobody deserves to be threatened, intimidated or harassed in this way.”

Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan also said: “It is not acceptable for elected politicians to be targeted at their family home.

"People’s opinions may differ but these opinions should be expressed civilly and without intimidation.”

Drew, 41, posted about the protest on social media, saying: “Tonight, outside Tobias Ellwood’s house 100 of us gathered for an emergency protest after the Israeli attacks on Rafah [in Gaza].”

Sarah Ward, who stood as a Green Party candidate in nearby Poole last month, defended the protest as "peaceful" and stressed there had been "no aggression, violence or intimidation from protesters".

Dorset Police later released a statement confirming officers arrived at the scene.

It said: “Officers attended the scene and liaised with the organisers to ensure people could exercise their right to protest legally and safely without causing significant or ongoing serious public disorder, serious damage or serious disruption.

Tobias Ellwood

Tobias Ellwood recently criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

PA

"We have a duty to ensure those involved act within the law and ensure the local community can go about their lawful activities. The group left the area by around 8.50pm.”

The Home Office has condemned “the recent targeting of Tobias Ellwood MP’s family home”.

They added: "Security measures for MPs are kept under review and the Parliamentary Security Department, in partnership with the police, continue to work to ensure that appropriate security measures are taken to protect elected representatives".

The targeting of Ellwood's home comes just days after Finchley & Golders Green MP Mike Freer revealed an arson attack against his constituency office meant he would stand down at the next general election.

However, the Palestine Solidarity Movement doubled-down on its actions in a statement.

It said: "Tobias Ellwood you can't hide, you're complicit in Genocide."

The statement added: "Our protest was entirely legal and is the result of constituents calls being ignored and inadequately addressed by Tobias Ellwood."

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