Robert Jenrick goes strangely quiet on far right unrest in Epsom

Robert Jenrick, Reform’s ludicrously titled ‘shadow chancellor’, was quick to come out last week and attack the police following reports of a rape of a 20-year-old woman by a group of men outside Epsom Methodist Church in Surrey.

Though little information had at that point emerged about the incident, speculation was already beginning to be shared on social media – both locally and further afield – that asylum seekers were involved, and Jenrick was keen for his slice of the publicity.

“Surrey Police must share what they can about the horrific rape in Epsom,” the turncoat Tory declared solemnly on, inevitably, X. “After the Southport attack, the authorities were silent. Nigel Farage and myself called this out. As did Jonathan Hall KC – the Government’s independent advisor. Their silence made a bad situation worse.

“People also have a right to know what’s happened in their area. And sharing information can only help with any investigation. Surrey Police must communicate ASAP. The British people deserve transparency.”

Five days on, though, and not only is Epsom recovering from a burst of far right violence, including the throwing of missiles at police officers and the targeting of hotels and homes, but it has emerged that there is no evidence the case involves asylum seekers or immigrants – or, indeed, that any incident took place at all.

Unrest that began on the evening of Wednesday, April 15 with objects thrown and police and demonstrators blocking the road, has continued. On the evening of Monday, April 20, far right protestors, apparently from far and wide, descended on the Surrey town, attracted by flyers both physical and online which bore language remarkably similar to that used by Jenrick.

“EPSON DEMANDS THE TRUTH,” it said. “POLICE COVER UP?

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“A serious crime has shaken our community. Questions are being asked. Why is information being withheld? WE DEMAND TRANSPARENCY. WE DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.”

A large number of men gathered at the town’s railway station to march at 5pm, hurling eggs, beer cans and cat food at police and targeting hotels and homes where they believed asylum seekers were being hosted. But there was no evidence of asylum seekers being hosted at any of the places attacked, which included a Travelodge (which does not have any contracts with the Home Office to house asylum seekers).

Surrey Police have said they have so far found “no evidence” of an alleged rape in Epsom nor any “involvement of asylum seekers”. Detectives investigating reports of the assault said they have “not found any evidence of the offence as reported”.

Lisa Townsend, Conservative police and crime commissioner for Surrey, said that “the mindless scenes we witnessed last night where our police officers were targeted with missiles were nothing short of shameful”, adding that her message to those “intent on stirring up trouble under the guise of legitimate protest” was to stay away.

Townsend said sexual assault allegations were treated with utmost seriousness by Surrey Police, and investigations after the reported rape had been “painstaking and extensive”.

She added: “Surrey Police has said there is no evidence this case involves asylum seekers or immigrants.

“But clearly this does not suit the narrative some want to push and we are still seeing misinformation being spread online which I believe helped fuel the scenes we witnessed last night. This unhelpful speculation has made a difficult situation even worse.”

And Robert Jenrick? He’s not had anything to say about the matter since his X post pointing the figure at police five days before they were physically attacked by a bunch of yobs aping his language virtually word for word.