Boris Johnson cancelled a planned speech in Rochester, Kent at the last minute following security concerns. The Prime Minister was scheduled to speak in the town, but the event was called off as worries about safety emerged.
Although only a small protest of around five people gathered, holding signs such as “Tories out” and “Austerity killed over 130,000,” Kent Police stated they did not advise the cancellation. The protest was peaceful but visible near the venue.
A spokesman for the Johnson campaign explained that security officials were uneasy about certain individuals present in the crowd. Additionally, there was concern that the Prime Minister’s location had been leaked too early, which could have posed risks to both the public and the Prime Minister himself.
As the scheduled arrival time for Boris Johnson approached, the crowd grew in size. Police moved protesters to a nearby small pub car park, the intended location for the speech, to manage the situation. Tory officials were later seen in deep discussion with the Prime Minister’s security team as delays became apparent.
Originally published by UKNIP.