Climate protester alleges rough treatment at Reform UK conference

A climate protester who disrupted Nigel Farage's speech at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham has described being roughly handled as she was removed from the hall. The woman, using the fake name Sally to protect her identity, said she was yanked down from her chair by her hair, had her shirt ripped, and was grabbed by the jaw. She also claimed an audience member with a crutch moved towards one of her friends.

Sally told 5 News she had disrupted the conference the previous year and expected "a few hands, maybe someone tugging on my shirt", but was shocked by the level of force used. She said the behaviour was disproportionate and argued that male colleagues who took part in the same protest were not treated as badly. She also suggested female journalists were not allowed back into the conference while most male journalists were.

West Midlands Police have said they are investigating and want witnesses to come forward. Sally said she and her group were still deciding how to communicate with the police, but insisted officers already had everything they needed to begin prosecutions. She criticised comments from Reform UK figures, including Robert Jenrick, who said "get a life" and "boo hoo" in response to the incident, calling such remarks patronising and evidence that senior party members do not care about women's rights.

The incident has raised questions about the handling of protesters at the conference and whether gender played a role in the treatment they received. Sally said she believed she was treated more harshly because she is a woman, pointing to the difference in how her male colleagues were handled. The party has not yet responded directly to the allegations in this interview.