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Minister Anna Soubry breaks up cafe brawl Minister Anna Soubry breaks up cafe brawl
(2 days later)
Defence minister Anna Soubry showed off her diplomatic credentials when she broke up a dispute in a cafe.Defence minister Anna Soubry showed off her diplomatic credentials when she broke up a dispute in a cafe.
The Tory MP, who describes herself as a "tough old bird", stepped in when she spotted a man allegedly brawling with staff in Prêt a Manger. The Tory MP, who describes herself as a "tough old bird", stepped in when she spotted a man allegedly brawling with staff in Pret A Manger.
The mother-of-two, 57, stood between the group before blocking the man from returning to the cafe in Westminster, central London.The mother-of-two, 57, stood between the group before blocking the man from returning to the cafe in Westminster, central London.
"I was desperate to avoid a fight on the pavement," she told the BBC."I was desperate to avoid a fight on the pavement," she told the BBC.
Ms Soubry said she came across the fracas on her way to the Horseferry Road branch of Prêt a Manger at 7am on Tuesday.Ms Soubry said she came across the fracas on her way to the Horseferry Road branch of Prêt a Manger at 7am on Tuesday.
"There was a rough sleeper with a lurcher dog, and he was trying to get in," she said."There was a rough sleeper with a lurcher dog, and he was trying to get in," she said.
"He was being blocked by two Prêt staff and he looked very aggressive - I thought it was going to develop into a very angry situation."He was being blocked by two Prêt staff and he looked very aggressive - I thought it was going to develop into a very angry situation.
"I stepped in between the staff and the rough sleeper and I said to him: 'Look at me - stop it, stop it.' I was desperate to avoid a fight on the pavement because I knew it would lead to serious trouble.""I stepped in between the staff and the rough sleeper and I said to him: 'Look at me - stop it, stop it.' I was desperate to avoid a fight on the pavement because I knew it would lead to serious trouble."
Ms Soubry, a former criminal barrister and TV reporter, said she believed being a woman stopped the brawl going any further.Ms Soubry, a former criminal barrister and TV reporter, said she believed being a woman stopped the brawl going any further.
Elected as Broxtowe MP in 2010, Ms Soubry became the first female Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans' Minister in October 2013.Elected as Broxtowe MP in 2010, Ms Soubry became the first female Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans' Minister in October 2013.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a man was arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident in Horseferry Road at around 7am on Tuesday.A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a man was arrested on suspicion of assault following the incident in Horseferry Road at around 7am on Tuesday.