The PM has condemned the “despicable harassment” of one of our “hard working public servants,” after a video surfaced on Twitter showing Professor Chris Whitty being accosted by members of the public for the third time in four months.
In the footage, England’s chief medical officer is manhandled by two men in St James’s Park, struggling to break free as they clasp him by the neck.
The disgraced duo are seen laughing to themselves as the incident takes place – and just as a visibly shaken Whitty manages to walk a few steps, they grab hold of him again as he crosses the road.
The PM has branded the two men “thugs” while Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, says she is “horrified by the appalling attack”.
The incident has sparked calls for top scientists like Whitty to be given the same level of security afforded to senior politicians.
But Patel refused to say whether Whitty would be given greater protection.
The Met is being accused of not doing enough to ensure the safety of top officials like Whitty. Its case isn’t helped by the presence of a police squad van in the background of the video. While the Met confirmed the two men had been spoken to, it’s not clear why they weren’t arrested on the spot.
