BREAKING: Brussels shuts down conservatism conference / NatCon conference continues in Brussels, after police leave without enforcing its closure

12.42 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/apr/16/gradual-smoking-ban-tory-splits-rishi-sunak-labour-uk-politics-live

 NatCon conference continues in Brussels, after police leave without enforcing its closure

My colleague in Brussels, Lisa O’Carroll, says the police have not been able to shut down the NatCon event in Brussels where Nigel Farage was speaking – because they don’t have the authority to do so.

 

Police enter venue of Nat Con conference in Brussels to serve a request to close down event. Farage on stage

 

Police enter venue of Nat Con conference in Brussels to serve a request to close down event. Farage on stage. Police return with slip of paper unsigned. They confirm organisers under no obligation to sign paper.

 

Police confirm the organisers are under no obligation to sign paper they bring to venue + organisers point out they cannot stop conference in private venue. Not clear who has objected

 

And this is from Darren McCaffrey from Sky News.

 

Several police officers, maybe 5 went inside the venue but stopped short of the stage. They then left. Still claiming they are legally going to enforce the judgement to shut the venue down - stalemate at the moment