Sir Charles Walker demands PM responds after 'elderly lady peacefully protesting' is arrested

A leading Tory backbencher has demanded the Prime Minister respond after witnessing an "elderly lady peacefully protesting" about Covid restrictions get arrested outside Parliament.

Conservative MP Sir Charles Walker has demanded the Prime Minister respond after witnessing an "elderly lady peacefully protesting" about Covid restrictions get arrested outside Parliament.

Police said they were on scene at a protest in Buckingham Gate, SW1 at 1pm on Tuesday, where it is believed that a small group of anti-lockdown protesters had gathered.

But the peaceful protest came to an end when three women - including the elderly lady - were arrested.

Raising a point of order, Sir Charles told the Commons: "I have just witnessed an elderly lady peacefully protesting with a handful of other people be arrested and carried spread-eagle to a police van just outside the precinct of the House of Commons.

"This is a disgrace. This is un-British. It is unconstitutional and this Government, our Prime Minister needs to end these injustices now.

"Madame Deputy Speaker, will you bring the Prime Minister and/or the Home Secretary here today to sort this out?

"She was an old lady robbed of her dignity for having the courage to protest about having her fundamental rights and those of my constituents and others removed."

Speaking to the Telegraph regarding the incident, Sir Charles Walker, the MP for Broxbourne and one of the Vice Chairmen of the backbench 1922 committee, described how the woman had refused to give her name and address to the police and was subsequently arrested.

“It’s not what they’re protesting about, I’m not an anti-vaxxer, it’s their right to protest, the right not to give their name and addresses - they’re not violent, they’re just a bunch of people.

“I suspect she’s a great British eccentric and I watched from up here in the House, her holding onto the railings and not wanting to corporate,” he said.

Sir Charles, who has been one of the most prominent voices in parliament opposing draconian restrictions, added: “It’s just nonsense, how can two people fail to disperse? The police are happy that they’ve followed the law but the law is rotten.”

Another witness, who filmed the arrest, 21-year-old Tom Ridgway said: “I saw an elderly woman being bundled into the back of the police van by four police officers. She was protesting the lockdown with one other man.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “A group had come together to protest. Police engaged with those present and explained the current restrictions around gatherings of more than two people.

“Two women refused to engage and were subsequently arrested for breaching the coronavirus restrictions.

“A short while later part of the group had re-gathered outside the Palace of Westminster.

“A third woman refused to comply, was arrested for breaching the coronavirus restrictions and then became uncooperative with officers.

“She was taken by police transport to custody.”