Jacob Rees-Mogg confronted by masked protesters when they burst into the university to interrupt his speech, chanting 'fascist scum'. After the scuffle, the politician told The Sun: 'All is well', saying the protesters were 'shouty'.
TORY MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has been caught up in the middle of a violent scuffle while giving a talk at a university.
Protesters wearing balaclavas burst into the room at the University of the West of England today, with witnesses saying they were chanting "fascist scum" and waving their fists.
UWE Bristol student William Brown told The Sun Online he first noticed the fire doors rattling, with the group of protesters bursting into the room.
He said: "These people in balaclavas and sunglasses started shouting, things like Tory fascist.
"They were quite intimidating actually.
"They were waving their hands around, shouting very loudly." He said that a few punches were thrown, but no one appeared to be badly injured.
The 20-year-old added: "Jacob went to calm them down, I think he came out of it very well.
"He was encouraging them to speak, without shouting, saying something like 'I'm happy to talk if you want'."
He said that security eventually appeared after 15 minutes, taking out the protesters and allowing the uni speech to continue.
Other students described the politician as "looking shaken up" after the confrontation.
But Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun he was unharmed in the scuffle, adding “all is well.”
Sebastian Salton, 19, a student at UWE Bristol, said about five people interrupted the talk, saying: "It was interrupted by antifascists, I don't think it was assault, I think people were trying to get him out.
"There was some negotiating.
"He went over to them and said 'lets not shout them down,' but they weren't having any of it.
"They were shouting 'racist, misogynist, homophobe, sexist.' They were talking about austerity."
Student Will Smith, 19, a student of Politics at UWE Bristol, said: "There were people in balaclavas shouting 'fascist scum' and 'sexist'.
"He was the first to approach them."
Mr Rees-Mogg, who has been tipped as his party's next leader, had been speaking at the University's Politics and International Relations Society.
Avon and Somerset Police launched an investigation and appealed for anyone to come forward with mobile phone footage to help the inquiry, saying: "No arrests were made and an investigation is under way to see if any criminal offences were committed."
UWE Bristol said in a statement: "We are absolutely appalled by the conduct of a small number of attendees.
"It is our understanding at this stage that a small group of protesters broke into the lecture theatre where the event was due to take place via the back doors. The police were called and our security attended.
"We understand that these protesters were not UWE Bristol students and did not have tickets for the event."
