Jeremy Hunt clashed with Sky News host Trevor Phillips as he was grilled over Rishi Sunak’s comments on pro-Palestine protests.
The presenter pressed the Chancellor on who the Prime Minister was referring to in his speech outside Downing Street on Friday when he said Britain’s “streets have been hijacked by small groups who are hostile to our values and have no respect for our democratic traditions”.
Mr Hunt told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme that the “vast majority” of those demonstrating “want to protest peacefully and within the law”.
But he said that there had been “examples of very intimidatory protests that have made other people feel unsafe”.
As Phillips asked “by whom”, Mr Hunt went on: “That is not the British way. What the Prime Minister was saying, we’ve all seen the scenes on our television, is we need to remember the British way is tolerance, understanding that the way you get change is through peaceful protest, argument and persuasion, and he was reaffirming those very British values.”
Phillips pressed: “Forgive me Chancellor, this is a very important point, part of the British way is to be straight. When you say we’ve seen these protests and these people, which people are we talking about? Who are you talking about?”
Mr Hunt said: “I’m talking about the scenes I’ve seen on television. I’m talking about the emails I’ve received from people who’ve been terrified by what they’ve seen in some of these protests. And I’m also saying, let me finish, it’s a very important topic….”
Phillips interrupted: “But you’re not answering the question I’m asking you. I’m asking you who is that you’re talking about.”
The Chancellor replied: “Trevor with the greatest respect I don’t know the names of people I see on television.
“What I do know is I’ve had emails from people saying they’re absolutely terrified, Jewish people absolutely terrified to go out of their houses, because of the behaviour of a small minority.
“What I’m also saying is the vast majority of people on these protests want to do so peacefully and within the law and we absolutely respect their right to do so.
“But when lines are being crossed we need to call it out and be active in calling out extremism for what it is.”
Phillips said: “I’ve let you answer, but if you wouldn’t mind answering my point.
“The reason I’m asking this question is that when you and the Prime Minister speak of these anonymous forces, groups or organisations, it leaves people assuming that you must mean either anyone who has been on one of these marches or anyone who happens to profess the Muslim faith.
“If you know that this is happening why can’t you say what groups, and the Prime Minister specifically talks about groups and organisations, you mean?”
Mr Hunt said: “Trevor with the greatest respect, I really enjoy being interviewed with you, but it does feel to me you actually weren’t listening to what I just said.”
Phillips replied: “I listened to exactly what you said.”
The Chancellor went on: “What I just said was the vast majority of people are protesting peacefully and I did not say these people who aren’t doing that are anonymous.
“I said I just happen not to know their names because I look at someone on television and I don’t know their names. So I think I answered your question with the greatest of respect.”
