Anna Soubry: Second man charged with harassing MP outside Parliament

Brian Phillips to appear in court later this month

A second man has been charged with harassment after former Conservative MP Anna Soubry was taunted outside Parliament.

Brian Phillips, 55, from Erith in south-east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later this month.

Ms Soubry was allegedly targeted outside Parliament during live television interviews on College Green in January.

The self-styled “yellow vest” activist James Goddard denied calling Ms Soubry a “Nazi” and a “traitor” at a Westminster Magistrates’ Court hearing in March.

The 29-year-old Brexiteer will return for a two-day trial on 19 July, during which the Remainer MP is expected to be among the witnesses.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “Following a review of the evidence by CPS London South, we authorised the police to charge Brian Phillips, 55, with one count of harassment. He was charged today and will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 June for his first hearing.

They added: “Mr Phillips has a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

Ms Soubry, a former Tory, was elected as leader of the Change UK party after six of its 11 MPs left in the wake of the disappointing performance at the European parliament elections.

Former interim leader Heidi Allen is one the group who quit and will now sit as independents in the House of Commons.

Additional reporting by Press Association