ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A Tory MP has come under fire after video footage showed him physically removing a climate change activist from a high-profile dinner at Mansion House.

Mark Field was filmed stopping one of the female protesters by pushing her against a column before holding her at the back of the neck and marching her out of the room.

The Foreign Office minister stepped in to eject the woman after several demonstrators disrupted Philip Hammond’s high-profile Mansion House speech to finance leaders on Thursday night.

Mr Field’s reaction was met with condemnation from some MPs who saw the clip. Labour MP Jess Phillips said the protester “posed no credible threat” and that she could have been removed “without physical contact,” while Heidi Allen said Mr Field was “too heavy handed”.

Climate Change Protest at Mansion House Dinner - In pictures 19 show all Climate Change Protest at Mansion House Dinner - In pictures 1/19 PA 2/19 A protester is removed EPA 3/19 Getty Images 4/19 Climate change activists being escorted from Mansion House PA 5/19 Reuters 6/19 Mark Field marches the protester out of the room holding her by her neck 7/19 ITV News 8/19 ITV News 9/19 Mark Field has referred himself to be investigated over the incident 10/19 PA 11/19 Climate change activists inside Mansion House in London PA 12/19 Climate change activists interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond PA 13/19 PA 14/19 PA 15/19 PA 16/19 PA 17/19 PA 18/19 PA 19/19 Philip Hammond was briefly interrupted Reuters 1/19 PA 2/19 A protester is removed EPA 3/19 Getty Images 4/19 Climate change activists being escorted from Mansion House PA 5/19 Reuters 6/19 Mark Field marches the protester out of the room holding her by her neck 7/19 ITV News 8/19 ITV News 9/19 Mark Field has referred himself to be investigated over the incident 10/19 PA 11/19 Climate change activists inside Mansion House in London PA 12/19 Climate change activists interrupted a speech by Chancellor Philip Hammond PA 13/19 PA 14/19 PA 15/19 PA 16/19 PA 17/19 PA 18/19 PA 19/19 Philip Hammond was briefly interrupted Reuters

The Standard has approached Mr Field for comment.

City of London Police spokeswoman said the force had received "third party" reports of an assault at the event. She added: "These reports are being looked into by police.”

While Mr Field’s actions sparked a backlash among some, others jumped to his defence. When asked if Mr Field had been heavy-handed with the protester by grabbing her by the back of the neck, Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley responded: "No, he reversed her direction and she looked as though she went willingly.

"I think there's no reason to criticise Mark Field... Of course it wasn't an assault, it was a reversal of direction."

He added: "The woman clearly was trying to create a fuss… Most viewers would say it's good that she didn't succeed."

Calling for Mr Field to be sacked or suspended, Labour MP Dawn Butler, who is shadow secretary of state for women and equalities, tweeted: "Conservative Foreign Office Minister Mark Field violently grabs a woman as she protests about climate change at the bankers' banquet. This appears to be assault. He must be immediately suspended or sacked. Due to Violence against women.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who is wondering why no one intervened. So much violence does not seem justified. An investigation needs to take place as soon as possible."

Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna described Mr Field's actions as "totally unacceptable" while Independent MP Sarah Wollaston said it was "Absolutely shameful, a male MP marching a woman out of a room by her neck."

Mr Hammond was prevented from speaking for a few minutes as the protesters were ushered out by security. They were trying to read their own speech about climate change.

The Chancellor, who was addressing the annual Bankers and Merchants Dinner at Mansion House, resumed his speech shortly afterwards.

He said: "The irony is that this is Government that has just led the world by committing to a zero carbon economy by 2050."

The comment was met with applause.

The protesters were among 40 volunteers who "gatecrashed" the Chancellor's Mansion House speech, according to Greenpeace.

Areeba Hamid, climate campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said: "This is a climate emergency. Business as usual is no longer an option.

"The real bottom line, the priority that needs to come before all others, is not profit, revenue or growth, but survival. That needs to be recognised in every boardroom and on every balance sheet, starting with the Chancellor's.

"The people in this room have been funding climate change, and we're not giving the banks and hedge funds a pass for their unethical investment decisions anymore. The Treasury is the Government's banker. It plays the same role propping up vested interests and blocking progress on climate change

Read more Philip Hammond disrupted by Greenpeace protesters at finance speech

"But science demands a radical programme of policy interventions and public investment if our economy is to survive the coming storm.

"The serious, sensible, grey-suited grown-ups in the room ignored the warning signs and crashed the economy in 2008.

"We can't afford to let them crash the climate too."

A City of London Police spokesman said: "We were alerted at 9.03pm. We were called by security at Mansion House who let us know there were a group of protesters who had gained entry and were refusing to leave.

"Officers arrived to help with their ejection. Once in the presence of the police, the protesters were co-operative and left the premises.

"No arrests were made."