Recruits had been standing for over an hour (Picture: Reuters)

A police recruit appeared to collapse during a speech by prime minister Boris Johnson this evening.

She was standing behind the prime minister as he gave a speech on Brexit, insisting he would rather be ‘dead in a ditch’ than seek another delay.

But the speech was interrupted briefly when she appeared unsteady on her feet and then sat down on the floor.

The incident was immediately noticed by people watching the speech live.


One user wrote on Twitter: ‘Did that police officer just collapse while Boris was speaking? I hope she’s okay!’

Another said: ‘A police officer trainee behind the PM who’s had to stand in the blasting sun for a good while waiting looks to have just collapsed and the PM has just carried on?’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

A student officer needs to sit down as he gives a speech to police officers (Picture: Getty)

Johnson kept these trainees waiting on their feet, and unsurprisingly, one of them appears to have felt faint. He saw that happen, and he ignored it. Tells you everything you need to know about this man – and how much he really cares about the police service. https://t.co/65xZrRB7Ox — Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) September 5, 2019

Did that police officer just collapse while Boris was speaking? I hope she’s ok! — Jess, Meg & Mum. (@Jessandmeg2) September 5, 2019

Car Crash TV! Johnson's performance so bad even one of the police cadets are rendered into a state of collapse.

I have NEVER seen such a painfully awful speech. Much as l hate him I believed he could do better than that.

'Looks like he made it up as he went along'.@BBCVickiYoung — Sue Heath (@sueellendarling) September 5, 2019

Jesus a police officer trainee behind the PM who’s had to stand in the blasting sun for a good while waiting looks to have just collapse and the PM has just carried on? — Vincent McAviney (@VinnyMcAv) September 5, 2019

Boris speaks and causes police cadet to collapse until he stopped — wilson sadler (@wilsonsadler) September 5, 2019

No, that was when he forced a new recruit to collapse in despair. She speaks for us all. pic.twitter.com/YJfIq7qvB4 — Theresa Made Me German (@WyndhamWallace) September 5, 2019



The prime minister asked if she was ‘alright’, then said he would take that as a signal to end his questions.

Recruits had been standing for at least 20 minutes while waiting for the PM to start speaking.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: ‘Johnson kept these trainees waiting on their feet, and unsurprisingly, one of them appears to have felt faint.

‘He saw that happen, and he ignored it. Tells you everything you need to know about this man – and how much he really cares about the police service.’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

As he finished, all the police present stood up and Mr Johnson went over to check on the stricken officer.

She was then attended to by colleagues.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said she was checking whether the woman was OK.

During the speech at the West Yorkshire Police Training Centre, Boris Johnson said he would not ask for an extension to Brexit.

Asked if he could make a promise to the public not to ask for a further Brexit delay, the PM said: ‘Yes, I can. ‘I would rather be dead in a ditch.’

But he declined to give a direct answer when asked if he would resign before requesting that delay.

Instead, he said: ‘It costs a billion pounds a month, it achieves absolutely nothing. What on Earth is the point of further delay? I think it’s totally, totally pointless.’

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.