Mark Field suspended: Tory minister loses job after grabbing female climate protester

Mark Field has been suspended as a government minister after violently grabbing a Greenpeace protester by the neck.

The Foreign Office minister was widely criticised after video emerged of the incident at a City of London dinner on Thursday night. 

It showed him jumping out of his seat to block the activist, grabbing her around the back of her neck, pushing her up against a column and then marching her out of the room.

The incident took place at the black tie Mansion House dinner where Philip Hammond, the chancellor, was giving a speech. 

Amid a growing backlash over his actions, Mr Field referred himself to the Cabinet Office and is also being investigated by police.

Downing Street said he would be suspended as a minister “while investigations take place”.

A spokesperson said: “The prime minister has seen the footage and found it very concerning. The police have said they are looking into reports of this matter and Mark Field has reported himself to the Cabinet Office and Conservative Party.

“He will be suspended as a minister while investigations take place.”

Mr Field had earlier apologised “unreservedly” to the activist.

He said: “In the confusion many guests understandably felt threatened and when one protester rushed past me towards the top table I instinctively reacted.

“There was no security present and I was for a split-second genuinely worried she might have been armed.

“As a result I grasped the intruder firmly in order to remove her from the room as swiftly as possible.”