Shocking footage has emerged of Professor Chris Whitty being harassed by two men in a park, and fellow Britons are, rightly, up in arms.
The video, lasting around 20 seconds, shows two grinning thugs grabbing England’s chief medical officer (CMO), as they shout: “Oi oi” and “one photo please?”.
Prof Whitty attempts to walk away but the men grab him again.
With a line of police vans visible in the background, a voice can then be heard saying: “Leave the gentleman alone” before the clip ends.
The Metropolitan Police is now investigating the incident, which has prompted fury and despair across social media.
Some Twitter users have called for health and science officials to receive police protection, while others have asked how society has reached the point that such lengths should be needed.
Actor and TV and radio presenter Adil Ray said it was “an utterly disgusting way to treat a person who has devoted his time to save our lives”.
This is an utterly disgusting way to treat a person who has devoted his time to save our lives. These complete and utter imbeciles must be found and dealt with. Meanwhile @BorisJohnson please provide Chris Whitty with security. https://t.co/PzAwgoqbMJ
— Adil Ray OBE 💙 (@adilray) June 28, 2021
While former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal suggested Whitty and other scientific advisers would be better treated by the Government if they were old statues:
I won’t share the Chris Whitty being abused video, but I know that if he was the statue of someone with a dubious past, he would have a dozen strong security detail
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) June 28, 2021
The offenders were radicalised by others - they share the blame
Here’s what other commentators have had to say:
I’m not sharing the horrible footage of Chris Whitty getting physically accosted but whoever is in charge of police protection for ministers/officials - is it @michaelgove at Cabinet Office maybe? - needs to get him some right now
— Jane Merrick (@janemerrick23) June 28, 2021
Disgusting. https://t.co/pynDDMuiBB
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 28, 2021
Lots of people asking tonight why Chris Whitty doesn't have protection officers. They are sadly right. But the bigger question is why on Earth a public health official should need one. This is what happens when people decide division is a useful political tool.
— Emma Burnell OMG (@EmmaBurnell_) June 28, 2021
Give Chris Whitty a minsiterial car ffs
— Grant Tucker (@GrantTucker) June 28, 2021
This is a complete disgrace. Chris Whitty should be protected from idiots like these. https://t.co/m1sgBANBz5
— Simon McCoy (@SimonMcCoyTV) June 28, 2021
Appalling to see Chris Whitty get aggressively harassed by those morons. A lot of talk on here about rising cruelty. There is. But also the related problems of conspiracy theories and of some not being able to see those they disagree with as full people any more. Dehumanisation.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) June 29, 2021
Chris Whitty has done an incredible job under immense pressure. Outrageous that he was targeted like that, hope he’s feeling ok, hope he gets appropriate protection.
— Rupert Beale (@bealelab) June 28, 2021
When 7yo Chris Whitty dreamed of being a doctor, did he think: ‘One day, I’d like to be the public face of a national lockdown and get harassed in the streets’?
— Daniel Barnett (@daniel_barnett) June 29, 2021
Horrible to see that video of Chris Whitty being assaulted - and another of morons chanting outside his home
— Liam Thorp 💙 (@LiamThorpECHO) June 29, 2021
Some people should be ashamed of themselves for how they’ve attempted to sow division and stir up hatred towards medics and scientists just doing their jobs
It should not be hard to identify the men harassing Chris Whitty in this video. https://t.co/3kvrdwCi5H
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) June 28, 2021
A video has emerged of 'thugs' harassing Professor Chris Whitty. But comedian @mrstevenallen tells @JuliaHB1 it's not "motivated by issues of the pandemic."
— talkRADIO (@talkRADIO) June 29, 2021
"This is nothing other than bullying and being a thug." pic.twitter.com/TutlvyfvVh
MPs are among the high-profile figures condemning those involved, with the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid tweeting:
I’ve seen the video of the CMO being harassed. It’s appalling and totally unacceptable. The CMO works tirelessly on behalf of the country. We will not tolerate this sort of behaviour towards our public servants. The men behaving in this disgraceful way should be ashamed.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) June 29, 2021
Meanwhile, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi wrote:
This is disgusting and these thugs must be found and charged. Zero tolerance for harassing a public servant. https://t.co/hrdHbAoBgK
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) June 28, 2021
And Labour MP Jess Phillips said Prof Whitty had been made to feel “awful and uncomfortable” as she issued a reminder that public figures “are human beings”:
Just seen this and it is horrible to see. Even if you perceive it as non violent it is clear that he felt awful and uncomfortable and resisted. Public figures are not dolls, they are human beings, it is stunning how easily this is forgotten. https://t.co/pKQ5fDuhKA
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) June 28, 2021
Speaking hours after the disturbing footage emerged, Priti Patel confirmed that officials were looking into giving Prof Whitty “the right kind of support”.
The Home Secretary told Times Radio Breakfast on Tuesday: “Chris is just a remarkable public servant, a man who has been leading the whole coronavirus response – nationally, yes, he has a high profile, and I think he’s an incredibly respected figure.
“I’m horrified by what has happened to Chris and the police are actually involved as well and we’re also speaking to Chris to look at what we can do to support him, it’s just appalling.”
Asked if she thought the CMO needed to be granted special security measures, she said: “I can’t speak about that but it’s important that we make sure that Chris is given the right kind of support.
“It’s terrible to see such an important public figure, someone that day in, day out, has been serving our country in the way in which he has to keep us safe, being subject to just appalling abuse.”
It is not the first time Prof Whitty has been forced to endure public harassment.
Earlier this month, he was confronted in a street in Oxford by a man accusing him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer outside Westminster.
The Met has responded to the latest incident with a statement reading: “We are aware of a video being shared online showing an incident in St James’s Park. Officers spoke to all those involved at the time and their details were taken.
“We are in contact with the victim and the circumstances continue to be investigated.”
The men filmed the incidents on mobile phones.
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