Boris Johnson Pulls Out of Rochester Speech Last Minute
Boris Johnson has suddenly cancelled his planned speech in Rochester, Kent this afternoon. Despite rumours, Kent Police insist they never advised scrapping the event.
Protesters Turn Out in Force
A small but vocal group of protesters showed up, with The Independent counting five. They brandished signs shouting “Tories out,” “Austerity killed over 130,000, the blood is on your hands,” and “No to racism, no to Boris Johnson.”
Security Concerns Behind Sudden Cancellation
A Johnson campaign spokesman said security officials were concerned about some crowd members. They also worried about the public being tipped off about the PM’s location too early. As the arrival time approached, the protest group grew, prompting police to move them away from the tiny pub car park where Johnson was meant to speak.
The Prime Minister’s team were spotted deep in talks with security as it became clear Johnson was running late — before the decision to cancel altogether was made.
