Today, Nadine Dorries was to end a Commonwealth Games interview early due to a threat made against a Sky News cameraman, for which she urgently needed to call security.
Before tonight’s opening ceremony, a pedestrian began shouting at the off-screen crew while Kay Burley was grilling the culture secretary in the centre of Birmingham.
Ms. Dorries originally attempted to carry on with the interview despite becoming increasingly disoriented, but she was unable to hear a question about the necessity of the Games’ £778 million price tag because of the man’s ranting.
We’re going to have to leave, Kay, I’m sorry. She remarked when it appeared that the cameraman was in danger. Your cameraman is having some minor difficulties.
She could hear the man screaming, “Don’t touch me,” as the camera continued to roll. I’ll have you arrested for assault if you even lift a finger against me.
He can’t touch me lady, what do you mean he ain’t touching me?
The angry man retorted when Ms. Dorries intervened and added, “He’s not touching you sir.” He cannot because I will have him jailed in about five seconds.
The minister then turns around and queries, “Is there security?” appearing to be unguarded. He wasn’t touched by the cameraman.
Still yelling, “Touch me then?” the man could be heard. They will have you arrested for assault, so you can’t.
After saying, “He’s not touching you,” Ms. Dorries informed the audience, “The cameraman did not touch him.”
Then, as a man emerges close to her shoulder and appears to be being led away, she nods to someone off camera and asks, “Shall I go? Shall I move?” and then vanished from view.
Although Ms. Dorries appeared unscathed, the remarkable moment makes it unclear how well-protected she was.
It is unlikely that the man approaching the minister after recognising her started the altercation.
She was plainly concerned about the safety of the Sky cameraman, a source told MailOnline.
She had defended the £778 million cost of holding the Commonwealth Games just moments earlier, when people were dealing with escalating debt and expenses.
From Birmingham, she said to Sky News: “It’s not a vanity project… This is quite significant.
Are you arguing against holding the Commonwealth Games? I believe that continuing to operate these Commonwealth Games in the magnificent manner that we have done makes us pleased and honoured to have taken up the baton when it was dropped elsewhere in the world.
“Everyone here—thousands of people—is really proud of what we’re accomplishing, especially the volunteers who are standing behind me right now.”
When asked if Rishi Sunak was one of the organisers of the “revolution,” Ms. Dorries, who is supporting Liz Truss in the leadership race, responded, “It was no secret that Boris Johnson had been a victim of a coup.”
Before the games, Ms. Truss promised that if she were to become prime minister, she would strengthen commercial links with the Commonwealth in order to challenge China’s hegemony.
Providing states with a “clear alternative to escalating malicious influence from Beijing,” the foreign secretary said, was her goal.
She said that by giving trade with Commonwealth nations first priority, economic and security links would be enhanced, and British enterprises would experience significant growth.
In order to ensure that the 56 Commonwealth nations operate as a buffer against China, Miss Truss declared she will introduce a “New Commonwealth Deal.”
As the Commonwealth Games began, Miss Truss announced her ambitions, saying, “I will guarantee that the Commonwealth sits at the centre of my plans for Global Britain.”
We must ensure that there are clear benefits to staying a part of the Commonwealth and provide countries with a clear alternative to Beijing’s expanding negative influence as one of the largest groups of freedom-loving democracies.
Prioritizing trade with Commonwealth nations will boost opportunities for British companies to access one of the largest economic blocs in the world while also strengthening economic and security ties.
During a contentious TV debate on Monday, Miss Truss charged that Rishi Sunak was pushing for a closer ties with China.
Beijing poses a “threat to our national security, it poses a threat to our economic security,” according to Mr. Sunak.
But Miss Truss pushed back, saying, “You were pushing for closer trade links with China as recently as a month ago.”
It was revealed last night that Mr. Sunak and the Treasury were on the verge of finalising a new commercial agreement with China to “deepen trade connections.”
According to a leaked Treasury paper obtained by The Times, the former Chancellor was close to reaching a deal on banking, regulations, and travel.