A protester has rushed the stage at the launch of Esther McVey’s leadership campaign, branding her speech “fake news”.
It came after the former work and pensions secretary – who is in the race to replace Theresa May in Number 10 – set out her plans for the UK.
Vowing to take the country out of the EU on October 31, McVey also promised a pay rise for public sector workers and a boost in education funding if she was elected prime minister.
But as the Tatton MP finished her speech, a heckler took to the podium to shout: “Excuse me, you are all fake news and these people are fake Conservatives.”
“I am a paid-up member of the Conservative Party,” he bellowed as people tried to remove him from the stage. “Touch me and I’ll have you nicked.”
Shouting “don’t touch me” over and over, the man was eventually removed from the room. McVey applauded as he was led away.
The man – who later told the Press Association his name was Graham Moore – later said he did not support any of the leadership contenders.
Insisting the UK had already left the EU on March 29, he said: “None of them are no good. They need to remove the Conservative Party, they don’t believe in the rule of law.”
The incident comes amid a series of speeches from Tory leadership candidates on Monday, with foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, Matt Hancock, Michael Gove and former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab all delivering talks.
There are currently 11 contenders in the race to replace May, but under new Tory Party rules, many could be culled this afternoon when nominations officialclose.
Unlike previous leadership races, Conservative politicians hoping to become leader must initially have the support of eight MPs, or they will be eliminated from the contest.