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| Ukip MP Douglas Carswell says he felt his safety was 'seriously at risk' after he was surrounded by anti-austerity protesters | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said he felt his "safety was at risk" after he was surrounded by anti-austerity protesters as he left Westminster after the Queen's Speech. | Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said he felt his "safety was at risk" after he was surrounded by anti-austerity protesters as he left Westminster after the Queen's Speech. |
| The former Tory said he had been left "in a state of shock" after he was confronted by demonstrators who chanted "Ukip scum" at him before he was escorted away by police. | The former Tory said he had been left "in a state of shock" after he was confronted by demonstrators who chanted "Ukip scum" at him before he was escorted away by police. |
| He said: "It got extremely, extremely nasty. Their intentions were pretty murderous and I needed a lot of police officers to prevent them from attacking me. | He said: "It got extremely, extremely nasty. Their intentions were pretty murderous and I needed a lot of police officers to prevent them from attacking me. |
| "I was stunned. I think MPs should be able to go about their business. It was incredibly intimidating. It was like a lynch mob on the streets of London. I thought this was a country where we had democracy and discussed the issues." | "I was stunned. I think MPs should be able to go about their business. It was incredibly intimidating. It was like a lynch mob on the streets of London. I thought this was a country where we had democracy and discussed the issues." |
| Demonstrators have been gathering in London to protest against cuts after the Queen's speech outlined the new Conservative Government's plans. | Demonstrators have been gathering in London to protest against cuts after the Queen's speech outlined the new Conservative Government's plans. |
| Police officers assist UKIP MP Douglas Carswell outside St James's Park underground station during an anti-austerity demonstration in London (AFP/Getty) | Police officers assist UKIP MP Douglas Carswell outside St James's Park underground station during an anti-austerity demonstration in London (AFP/Getty) |
| Figures for the number who attended the protest, which began in Trafalgar Square, central London, have varied. | Figures for the number who attended the protest, which began in Trafalgar Square, central London, have varied. |
| The Press Association has put the figure at about 200, while The Mirror has described "thousands" as being at the event. | The Press Association has put the figure at about 200, while The Mirror has described "thousands" as being at the event. |
| Mr Carswell, Ukip's only MP, said he was taking part in a peaceful discussion with a small group of demonstrators before he was confronted by a larger group. | Mr Carswell, Ukip's only MP, said he was taking part in a peaceful discussion with a small group of demonstrators before he was confronted by a larger group. |
| He said: "It just got incredibly ugly. It was an attempted lynching. I am in a state of shock. I do not want to have to worry about going about my business." | He said: "It just got incredibly ugly. It was an attempted lynching. I am in a state of shock. I do not want to have to worry about going about my business." |
| He went on to say: "If the police had not been there I do not think I would be here now my safety was very, very seriously at risk. I have never seen such hatred. | He went on to say: "If the police had not been there I do not think I would be here now my safety was very, very seriously at risk. I have never seen such hatred. |
| "If this is the way the extreme left behave now, I do not think it bodes well for the future." | "If this is the way the extreme left behave now, I do not think it bodes well for the future." |
| One protester, who did not want to identified, said Mr Carswell had a bottle of water thrown over him as he was surrounded by demonstrators. | One protester, who did not want to identified, said Mr Carswell had a bottle of water thrown over him as he was surrounded by demonstrators. |
| He said: "Douglas Carswell was in St James' Tube, someone spotted him and everyone rushed over. | He said: "Douglas Carswell was in St James' Tube, someone spotted him and everyone rushed over. |
| "Everyone was chanting and he was stuck. The police had to push through the crowd and he got a bottle of water thrown over him. | "Everyone was chanting and he was stuck. The police had to push through the crowd and he got a bottle of water thrown over him. |
| "Then police put him in a van and he was driven away." | "Then police put him in a van and he was driven away." |
| According to reports, there were skirmishes between police and protesters as some of the demonstrators, including some wearing masks and scarves, ran down Whitehall. | According to reports, there were skirmishes between police and protesters as some of the demonstrators, including some wearing masks and scarves, ran down Whitehall. |
| One group also staged a sit-down protest by Trafalgar Square, stopping traffic in the area. | One group also staged a sit-down protest by Trafalgar Square, stopping traffic in the area. |
| Andy Dent, 39, who runs a joinery business and lives in Surrey, told PA: "The Tories give tax cuts for the rich, they want to bring back fox hunting - they are trying to turn this country back into Victorian England. | Andy Dent, 39, who runs a joinery business and lives in Surrey, told PA: "The Tories give tax cuts for the rich, they want to bring back fox hunting - they are trying to turn this country back into Victorian England. |
| "There are people out there who can't stand up for themselves, but that's what Britain is supposed to be about - helping the underdog and doing the right thing. | "There are people out there who can't stand up for themselves, but that's what Britain is supposed to be about - helping the underdog and doing the right thing. |
| "We are going to see more protests when we see what the Tories do when they don't have the Lib Dems holding them back." | "We are going to see more protests when we see what the Tories do when they don't have the Lib Dems holding them back." |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |