Spotted: David Cameron in Norwich

David Cameron was met with angry protest when he visited Norwich last week.

When the PM showed up at the Forum on Friday, The Tab team were on the scene to investigate.

However, after some time of waiting in the cold, it was clear that Cameron had entered via a side entrance and many people were left wondering where this elusive man was.

As the Prime Minister and his friends sneakily left the premises via a rear exit in vehicles which eyewitnesses described as driving “dangerously fast”, one protester was arrested for throwing a cardboard sign at the PM’s car.

Have you seen this man?

The Tab arrived at the Forum at around 5:30pm where a large group of demonstrators had gathered at the front entrance to the venue. The group was comprised of local people as well as a number of UEA students. Around 20 UEA Labour Society members were present and Society Chair, Connor Rand, told us why:

“The Labour Society is out here today to remind people that we are each now £1,600 a year worse off thanks to David Cameron.

“I would like to ask him why he is part of a government that has so much contempt for students and young people and I feel that as students, we have a responsibility to ask ourselves whether the quality of our education and what this government is doing is right for us.

“Our message is very clear on a whole range of issues: from the scrapping of the future jobs fund, the trebling of tuition fees, or the 80% cuts to university teaching grants, what this government has to offer to students is nothing. Only the Labour Party can once again put education and students at the forefront of British policy.”

Crowds gather to protest against Cameron

Also present was Jess Asato, the Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Norwich North. She told us:

“The reason we’re here protesting tonight is to tell David Cameron that we don’t want him because his policies are damaging many people in Norwich, from the bedroom tax, through to cuts to welfare services.

“He lives in a world that has no relevance to the vast majority of people in Norwich, and we’re here, whether he comes through this entrance or not, to let him know that he can’t walk through this building without some sense of the anger that is out there.”

The entrance Cameron was expected to enter through

As well as representatives from the Labour party there were many unaligned protesters – including some UEA students – who joined the demonstration. A small minority wore face masks and were hostile, but most were open and friendly about why they had turned up to protest on such a cold night.

A student protestor

Unsurprisingly The Tab was unable to spot any representatives from Conservative-aligned organisations, and Mr Cameron and his entourage were not available for interview.

In fact, after a few hours of waiting, it was soon apparent that the Prime Minister would not be publicly entering the building, prompting many to wonder if he was even coming at all. BBC staff based in the Forum office even took time out of their busy schedules to look out of the windows for a fleeting glimpse of the elusive man.

BBC staff joined in the hunt

The Tab was later contacted by members of the Conservative Society who had managed to find the Prime Minister. Stefano Pollard, second year French and Spanish student and Union Councillor of the Conservative Society, said:

“I did not speak to him directly but he made a very interesting speech on all the investment coming to the east of England: A11 upgrade, A47 upgrade, Norwich-London in 90, etc.

“He also highlighted the successes of this government: more jobs, more investment, radical reforms, more trade, reduction of deficit etc. He painted an image of Britain turning a corner, ready to face the challenges posed by the modern world.

“Regarding what happened at the Forum I cannot say because I wasn’t there, so I don’t feel comfortable commenting about it: I don’t know what his plans were there.

“However, and these are MY views, it is also very difficult to speak to someone (the protesters), when they are the first ones not wanting to listen, only wanting to raise placards without looking at the facts that stare at them in the face.

“I believe discussion is always on the table, but there needs to be a serious effort on the protesters’ part to actually want that: shouting and screaming doesn’t get anyone anywhere.

“Finally, regarding the person, he was witty, comfortable, down to earth: he says things how they are, and does not avoid the question of the topic.”

Someone finally found him

The Cameron convoy left the Forum via a rear entrance and vehicles sped past a breakaway group of protesters. One man threw a cardboard sign towards the cars and was immediately arrested for what was reported to the Tab as “intent to cause criminal damage”.

Cameron and his cronies entering the building via a side entrance…

…and later exiting at high speed

A witness who wishes to remain anonymous told The Tab that the man was “arrested for attempted criminal damage, for throwing a cardboard placard in the air that went near David Cameron’s car but did not touch it. The cars were driving dangerously fast.” The man was then led away to the police station which was conveniently located just across the street.

The infamous sign thrower getting nicked

Other witnesses told The Tab of their concern that police had failed to act when Cameron sped out of the Forum car park at high speed and the problem of double standards.