Have any of you seen the scuffle the Deputy Prime Minister got into today?
Someone threw an egg at him while shouting abuse and he then punched him in the face! I know he was provoked but don’t you think someone in that position should show more restraint? Or do you think he was right to stand up for himself? Is it ever right to hit someone?
Personally I think what he did was an overreaction. No-one should hit someone just for messing up their suit a little. The fact that he is the Deputy PM makes it even worse.
Some folk think that it’s ok to have a go at a pubic figure in a way they would never dare behave to other folk.
Why should it be ok to throw things at a person simply because you see them on tv and in the papers ?
Why should the assaulted not strike back ?
I do know that if a total stranger threw eggs all over me without provocation they would find themselves sitting on their backside right rapidly.
It seems to have been accepted that politicians in the UK don’t strike back and do not press charges but if I were Prescott I certainly would sue the scumbag.
If we do not exert personal discipline when asserting our views then democracy itself is at risk as violent prtoest takes over.
Why is it that people always think they can take a swing at my pubic figure? 
Just curious-- has this Prescott fellow been charged with a crime? Is it likely that he will be charged, if he hasn’t already been?
Casdave – I think the protestor’s point would probably be that he had been provoked. I understand he’s a farm worker, and they have legitimate grievances about the way the foot and mouth scandal was handled. Mind you, Prescott is not directly responsible for that.
Whatever the legal definition of assault is, I think most folk would class egg throwing as a fairly extreme form of heckling, and I certainly don’t believe that Prescott, or anyone else in that position, should have punched the guy.
Without wishing to turn this into a political argument, the case of egging a politician is very different to putting a custard tart in Bill Gates face, or any other public figure, IMHO. Politicians are the only public figures whose wages we pay on the understanding that they will stick to their side of the deal (ie. remain honest, act in our best interest and fulfil manifesto pledges). When they don’t you should have some comeback, although perhaps a strongly worded letter is better than an egg.
Personally I think that the entire cabinet and opposition front bench should be tarred and feathered, but that’s just a little fantasy of mine.
So just because he is a public official means he isn’t human? It means he can’t protect himself against people who mean to do him harm?
I think when an incident like this happens it makes me feel better about our elected officials. It kind of makes them more human and more on our level.
Rasta - it seems not.
The police, of course, arrested the egg thrower rather than the punch-thrower. The guy - Craig Evans - has been released on bail according to the BBC and has not yet offered any statement, or if he has, i can’t find it.
I think Labour should make it part of their election campaign…
Vote Labour… or he’s coming after you next.
Fran
Heroes. Both of them.
Did you see the look on the farmer’s face after the egg and before the punch? He had this incredibly wonderful smug “he can’t do anything to me on TV” look on his face.
Prescott may be a bit of a wanker, but he sure surprised Mr. Smirking guy
Ph, and the smirking farmer is a hero because without him the incident would not have happened
Press footage of the year I tells ya!
— G. Raven
Craig Evans is now discussing with his lawyer whether or not to press charges.
I don’t think being hit by an egg is a serious threat to his safety. Obviously it was a spur of the moment reaction to srike back but all I’m saying is I think he should have shown more restraint. He was walking through a hostile crowd and should have realised there was at least the possibility of something happening. He had police with him so he was in no real danger and I think someone is our acting Prime Minister, the representative of our country, when Blair’s on holiday is supposed to behave in a civilised manner rather than brawling in the street.
This is on another thread elsewhere, where I said I didn’t think it was a punch, more an firmly out-thrust hand.
If the guy was a farm worker, he would have got more publicity by dressing up as a chicken, and falling over in front of Prescott.
It was definitely a punch. I’ve seen it a couple of times on TV and the photo’s. Lennox Lewis’ trainer said it was a good boxing move as your instinct would be to hit with your right hand but he stepped back and jabbed him with his left hand. Incidently John Prescott is an ex-boxer. He used to box when he was a steward on a cruise liner and was said to be quite good.