MP pelted with eggs over forest privatisation
By Ian Dunt
Tory MP Mark Harper has been pelted with eggs as demonstrators took him to task for trying to sell off English forests.
The Forest of Dean MP was attacked after leaving a public meeting in Coleford, Gloucestershire, on the controversial move.
The attack comes as signs emerge of a backbench Tory rebellion on the issue, which is becoming increasingly toxic for the coalition.
Government plans would see commercial forests sold off to private companies and protected forests handed to voluntary organisations.
But the scale of the public backlash has taken the government by surprise, and many Labour figures think there will be a U-turn along the lines of cuts to school sport budgets.
Three Tory MPs and four Lib Dems rebelled over the issue during an opposition debate last week.
Conservative MPs Sarah Wollaston, Caroline Nokes and Julian Lewis have all spoken out against the plans.
