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'Nazi' taunt of MP Anna Soubry condemned as 'disgusting'

Board of Deputies condemn jeers and abuse of anti-Brexit MP as Speaker calls protestors' actions 'harassment'

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The Board of Deputies has condemned the "disgusting" abusive chants against anti-Brexit MP Anna Soubry - who was branded a "Nazi" and harassed outside parliament.

Ms Soubry faced chants of "Soubry is a Nazi" during a BBC News interviewer from a group of far-right activists who have descended on parliament to harangue journalists and parliamentarians in the runup to the Brexit deal vote next week.

The Board called this "vile abuse".

"I really do object to being called a Nazi," Ms Soubry told BBC News as she interviewed live and the chants drowned out what she was saying.

"Astonishing - and this is what has happened to our country."

After the interview, the protestors encircled her and shouted abuse in her face as she walked to parliament. One screamed: "Anna, you're a fascist!" Another said: "

Ms Soubry said MPs should not "have to accept this as part of the democratic process".

John Bercow, the Jewish speaker of the House of Commons has said he is "keeping a close eye" on their behaviour, amid calls for police to take against them.

Mr Bercow said there was "aggressive protest and what many would regard as harassment" which involved "aggressive and threatening behaviour towards members by assorted groups that have donned the yellow vests seen in France", a reference to the yellow vests some of the protestors were wearing.

He added there was "what seems to be a pattern of protest" against female MPs in particular.

The Metropolitan Police said its officers in and near parliament had been "briefed to intervene appropriately where they hear or see breaches of the law".

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