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| Sadiq Khan speech disrupted by Brexit and Trump supporters | Sadiq Khan speech disrupted by Brexit and Trump supporters |
| (2 days later) | |
| London mayor brushes off interruption by White Pendragons, describing them as ‘what some would call very stable geniuses’ | |
| Chris Johnston | |
| Sat 13 Jan 2018 13.27 GMT | |
| First published on Sat 13 Jan 2018 12.17 GMT | |
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| A group of protesters backing Brexit and Donald Trump have disrupted a speech by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan. | A group of protesters backing Brexit and Donald Trump have disrupted a speech by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan. |
| Khan’s address on gender equality to the Fabian Society in central London was suspended for several minutes on Saturday morning while a small number of demonstrators from a recently formed far-right group called the White Pendragons made their protest. | Khan’s address on gender equality to the Fabian Society in central London was suspended for several minutes on Saturday morning while a small number of demonstrators from a recently formed far-right group called the White Pendragons made their protest. |
| Shortly after Khan began speaking at the society’s new year conference, one man told the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here today to make a non-violent, peaceful citizen’s arrest.” | Shortly after Khan began speaking at the society’s new year conference, one man told the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here today to make a non-violent, peaceful citizen’s arrest.” |
| One man shouted “No to the EU” and another displayed a US flag. | One man shouted “No to the EU” and another displayed a US flag. |
| Audience members began to heckle and slow-clap, but the protesters resisted attempts to remove them, claiming they would sue anyone who touched them for “common assault”. | Audience members began to heckle and slow-clap, but the protesters resisted attempts to remove them, claiming they would sue anyone who touched them for “common assault”. |
| Several police officers then moved in to escort them from the venue. | Several police officers then moved in to escort them from the venue. |
| The protesters claimed the Fabian Society was “subverting our English constitution”, with one quoting the Magna Carta. | The protesters claimed the Fabian Society was “subverting our English constitution”, with one quoting the Magna Carta. |
| Outside the hall, the ITV News reporter Paul Brand asked them several times for clarity about their objection to the society, but failed to get a clear response. | Outside the hall, the ITV News reporter Paul Brand asked them several times for clarity about their objection to the society, but failed to get a clear response. |
| He said in a tweet that they claimed to be neither a racist, nor a far-right group. “But they told us Sadiq Khan has no right to be Mayor of London, referencing his religion.” | He said in a tweet that they claimed to be neither a racist, nor a far-right group. “But they told us Sadiq Khan has no right to be Mayor of London, referencing his religion.” |
| When Khan, a former chair of the Fabian Society, resumed his speech he quipped: “On the plus side, I wasn’t served with a P45” – a reference to Theresa May’s Tory conference speech that was interrupted by a prankster. | When Khan, a former chair of the Fabian Society, resumed his speech he quipped: “On the plus side, I wasn’t served with a P45” – a reference to Theresa May’s Tory conference speech that was interrupted by a prankster. |
| The mayor added: “It is a pleasure to be here even though we were distracted by the actions of what some would call very stable geniuses.” | The mayor added: “It is a pleasure to be here even though we were distracted by the actions of what some would call very stable geniuses.” |
| #Fab18 conference slightly delayed by Trump supporters who wouldn't let Sadiq Kahn speak. The police had to intervene and remove the group of – in Kahn's words – 'very stable geniuses' pic.twitter.com/d7sVx9Dc1j | #Fab18 conference slightly delayed by Trump supporters who wouldn't let Sadiq Kahn speak. The police had to intervene and remove the group of – in Kahn's words – 'very stable geniuses' pic.twitter.com/d7sVx9Dc1j |
| Last Saturday the US president used the same phrase to describe himself in a tweet following questions about his mental health. | Last Saturday the US president used the same phrase to describe himself in a tweet following questions about his mental health. |
| Sadiq Khan | |
| London | |
| Donald Trump | |
| Brexit | |
| Michael Wolff | |
| news | |
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