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Protester who 'slimed' Mandelson says police found it 'quite amusing'
David Cohen9 Mar 2009
The protester who threw green custard at Lord Mandelson claims today that police who arrested her thought the stunt was funny.
Leila Deen was questioned over the attack at Belgravia police station where she was held for two hours.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Ms Deen, 29, said: "It was fine. Some of the officers were saying they saw me on television and making jokes about custard. The impression I got is that even they seem to find the whole thing quite amusing."
Ms Deen, a charity worker who lives in Hackney and spokeswoman for the direct action group Plane Stupid, "slimed" Lord Mandelson on Friday in protest at plans for the construction of a third runway at Heathrow.
The stunt, captured by TV cameras, has turned Ms Deen into something of a celebrity and earned her cult hero status in the environmental movement. She told today how she had been inundated with messages of support and even offers of money to throw custard at other politicians.
"It's been hectic," she said. "I've had over 100 text messages from people I haven't spoken to for years, saying 'well done' and 'he deserves it' and 'I'll give you a tenner if you do Prescott as well'.
"I went to the pub and five people I've never met came up to congratulate me. One guy wanted a photo with me. Everybody agrees that of all the politicians, he [Lord Mandelson] is the one who deserved the sliming."
Even as she went to the police station yesterday - the Standard was there to see her go in - a passer-by recognised her and gave her the thumbs-up.
Ms Deen defended her actions, branded "adolescent" by Lord Mandelson, who expressed surprise that his attacker was able to "saunter off" on Friday, only to be arrested yesterday.
Ms Deen said today: "It's not adolescent, but it is desperate. There are those who say we need mature debate, not silly stunts, but the reality is that Plane Stupid has already won the debate on Heathrow's third runway.
"The media agreed with us, as did the mayoral candidates, and 85 per cent of those consulted didn't want it, and yet the Government have still decided to go ahead. So mature debate is over. And all we have left are high-profile, creative, amusing direct actions."
Asked why she targeted Lord Mandelson rather than, for example, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, she said: "Because until Mandelson rode back into town with BAA's chief lobbyist and his best mate, Roland Rudd, we were winning the argument.
"He bullied Ed Miliband (Energy and Climate Change Secretary) and Harriet Harman (deputy Labour leader) and others around the Cabinet table, apparently bashing his head on the table in frustration when he couldn't get his way. So who's being an adolescent now? On top of that, Mandelson is not even elected. The only constituency he represents is people with big bucks."
The custard attack was only planned the night before, Ms Deen revealed. "I found out he was speaking the next morning at a government summit on carbon emissions and I thought, what a hypocrite.
"I cleared it with some of my colleagues in the inner circle of Plane Stupid - there are a hard core of about 25 of us in London - and they thought it was a great idea, so I got busy preparing the custard. It's a simple recipe: you take organic custard powder, add water and sugar and half a bottle of green food dye, and heat and stir.
"I chose custard over paint because I didn't want to permanently damage his clothes and because I wanted the protest to be purely symbolic, like throwing a pie.
"But unlike the guy in Iraq who threw his shoes at George Bush and missed, I had to make sure that I hit him. So we made quite a few flasks and I practised throwing custard at my friend's head."
On Friday morning, Ms Deen cycled to the Royal Society in Pall Mall where Lord Mandelson was due to speak.
She met fellow activists in a coffee shop, decanted the custard into a cardboard cup, and arrived just as he was pulling up in his ministerial Jaguar.
"A minute later and I would have missed him," she said. But even then, she wasn't sure she could go through with it. "I had a moment's doubt and hesitation because it's against my character to be so confrontational.
"But then he emerged looking so arrogant and pleased with himself that my adrenaline kicked in. My heart was pumping. I was calm, but shaking. I called his name and he smiled, and I started to say, 'this is for the third runway', and he looked into my face with a kind of condescension, and I just let him have it.
"I only used about a quarter of my cup. I only realised I'd done it when somebody shouted 'oh no' and I walked off, expecting to be apprehended."
Reader views (38)
We've been fighting proposals to destroy our villages for years. We did "chant, roar, vote and blog" (Paul, Bristol). 70,000 even responded to a Con-sultation (with over 80% opposing Heathrow expansion) yet our Government ignored us. Brown, our unelected Prime Minister, decided twice-disgraced Mandelson was ideal to put into the House of Lords to help push the runway through. Investigations have shown that the government has colluded with BAA and witheld information from the people most affected by these devastating proposals. So one devious twerp got a little custard on his expensive suit, while thousands are going to have their lives ruined because of him and his mates. He knew he got off lightly and only kicked up a fuss when he realised Leila had given some excellent interviews to the Press and TV. She is no fool and is certainly not a coward.
- Save Sipson, Nr Heathrow, England, 30/03/2009 23:57
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This silly woman has had way too much publicity from her childish and cowardly little jape and is the last person I'd want lecturing me on democracy, the environment or indeed anything that actually matters; including making custard....
- H, Essex, 10/03/2009 09:46
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It was an idiotic act by an idiotic person. This has harmed her "cause" rather than enhanced it. She is just lucky that the person she attacked (and that is exactly what it was) didn't respond by slapping her hard across the face. Then, no doubt, she would have ran off crying to the police for protection...she is pathetic.
- Jeff, Hobart, Australia, 09/03/2009 22:50
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It's assault, plain and simple. It wouldn't be funny if it happened to you.
At some point someone is going to throw something caustic, and then the laughter will stop.
This is a democracy, supposedly a civilized one, so chant and roar, vote and blog. But don't assault people, and don't applaud it.
- Paul, Bristol, 09/03/2009 22:16
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What a pathetic immature girl.
I consider myself to be environmentally friendly, I've been recycling far longer than 95% of people I know, I started buying low energy lightbulbs years before anyone, and sold my car 6 years ago because I think public transport is the way forward. However, I think Heathrow needs another runway, its long overdue, there are planes circling the airport waiting for landing slots for far longer than necessary, and that is much more of a waste of fuel than having planes landing efficiently.
- Dw, London, 09/03/2009 22:09
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I am no fan of Mandelson, but I do t hink that she acted in a stupid manner and think she should be punished.
- Charlie George, ilford england, 09/03/2009 22:02
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It was a bit silly but these things do always cheer everyone up in a recession.
To regain all the moral high ground Leile could offer to pay the cleaning bill?
- Nick, London, 09/03/2009 19:20
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To Mikeyinlondon...
...the question is could she handle another fiery woman, with amazing attitude who would love the opportunity to tackle to her to the ground. As for the green custard, I may make it multicoloured!
... so Mickey... are you a mouse?
- Lee, London, 09/03/2009 19:09
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It was only appropriate that she was taken into custardy.
- Colin Grant, salisbury eng;and, 09/03/2009 18:44
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This is the funniest thing I have seen in ages. A slimeball being slimed. I have watched the video countless times and still find it amusing. It is a classic. That dork Prescott calling for police action - this from the same man who thinks it's OK to lash out at the slightest provocation.
- Jimmy Cricket, London town, 09/03/2009 18:31
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I think Mandelson got his just desserts!
- John Shea, Harrow, England, 09/03/2009 17:41
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Anyone who thinks this stunt will change the decision made is as foolish as the stuntswoman involved.
- Toks, London,UK, 09/03/2009 17:32
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Oh, come on! Lighten up! It was a TERRIFIC stunt in these difficult times.
I betcha that the video has been watched zillions of times. I laugh every time. Of course Mandy's the perfect target, and is reviled by everybody.
- Michael Fishberg, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 09/03/2009 17:22
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If the Police think it so amusing perhaps we should start sliming Community Support Officers, Traffic Wardens, Council Jobs Worths etc, and of course the Police themselves. All of whom are famous for not listening and being unreasonable.
- Sandy, Ealing, UK, 09/03/2009 17:19
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Quote: - Lee, London .
if I had been there I would have tackled her to the groud.
If I see Ms Deen around, I fully intend to throw green custard in her face and see how she likes it!!!
----------------------------------------------------
Could you handle a fiery woman Lee?
Or would she tackle you to the ground instead?
Even more so; can you make green custard?
- Mickyinlondon, london, 09/03/2009 17:16
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Try doing it to someone like Putin, Leila. Then perhaps you will come to respect that in Britain we do still have democracy and free speech, however flawed.
- Sandy, Ealing, UK, 09/03/2009 16:29
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Isn't this giving Leila Deen a trifle more publicity than she deserves ?
- Neill Hurley, Sussex , England, 09/03/2009 16:14
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i want to applaud leila deen for showing peter mandelson for the slime he is. he is an unelected politician, he has been force dot resign TWICE from the labour government for corrupt pracitises. politicians over the decades have had things thrown at them. no harm was done.
Bravo Leila Deen
- John Paul, David Hadfield, reading, 09/03/2009 16:06
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Let's hope the courts don't find it so amusing and she gets a spell of jail for her stupid action
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 09/03/2009 16:03
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What a very childish & immature act! - it could have caused the person to have a heart attack - i hope this girl grows up and becomes a sensible human being and finds her way in life or even may i say "get a life"
- Jane Arbuthnott, Surrey, 09/03/2009 15:55
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The police might find it funny when it's done to someone else, but try doing it to them and these days you'd get arrested as a terrorist and taken into custody...or is that custardy?
- Robert C, London UK, 09/03/2009 15:43
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I don't think this is funny one bit. She should be ashamed of herself. She is no longer in nursey school and throwing things out of her pram because she couldn't have own way.
What is this Country coming to when people like Ms Deen do stupid and childish things like this. I was shocked and to be truthfully honest, if I had been there I would have tackled her to the groud.
If I see Ms Deen around, I fully intend to throw green custard in her face and see how she likes it!!!
- Lee, London, 09/03/2009 15:26
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You can write a million letters to MP’s; and nothing is ever done.
You can peacefully protest; and nothing is ever done.
You can elect new governments; and the people are still ignored.
We have terrorists that kill; protected by human rights laws.
I personally think; Miss Deen has finally been noticed; just with nothing more than green custard.
Love her or hate her; they are listening to her now………
- Mickyinlondon, london, 09/03/2009 15:20
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I am not sure why this young woman thinks throwing filth in someone's face wins an argument. It seems to me to be the action of a stupid or quite simply intolerant person.
It isn't brave to carry on like this in a country wherte you know the worst you will get is a fine, or a few hours spent in a police cell.
What is she going to do next? Throw custard at every person taking a holiday flight from Gatwick. I think she may find their response a bit harder to deal with than Mr Mandelson's
- Andrew, Edinburgh, 09/03/2009 14:47
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I wonder how Ms Deen would react if someone threw green custard over her. Would she be amused? Would she have the person charged with assault?
- Catherine Mclean, Dundee,Scotland, 09/03/2009 14:43
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I thought it was a stupid thing to do. I can't imagine throwing something at somebody. That is assault.
- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner), 09/03/2009 14:29
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Everything she says seems eminently sensible to me. She should run for Parliament - I'd vote for her!
- Charlie, Soho, London, 09/03/2009 14:09
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Mandelson covered in slime? Now there's a surprise.
- Warren Alexander, London, UK, 09/03/2009 14:09
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Dee - I would also like to remind you that Peter Mandleson is not elected either.
- Dp, east london, 09/03/2009 13:17
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The recent polls show that the majority of people in this country find it neither funny nor clever.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 09/03/2009 12:57
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Your wish has been granted - You have become a celebrity. Now you will be asked for your opinion because you threw custard at a famous person, not because your opinion is of any perceived value.
- Alex C, London, 09/03/2009 12:47
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I find the only amusing part is the fact that Lord Mandelson didnt know what she was protesting about. when asked on a TV channel he said "I dont know what she was protesting about, she was to busy throwing the green stuff that she forgot to tell me what she was protesting about" which just shows pathetic the whole thing is. if she stood up with a sign it would have made more of an impression and not make her and her campaign look pure stupid and childish.
- Joe, London, 09/03/2009 12:36
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well done leila.
- Mat, london, 09/03/2009 11:35
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Throwing anything at someone else in public is loutish behaviour, particularly if you're a stranger to the target.
Mind you, I'm not surprised that people are applauding it. Just shows how society is falling ever further into the sewer.
- Jock, London, 09/03/2009 11:24
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The most arrogant person is Leila Deen. She seems to think she speaks for all of the public, but she doesn't. I'd like to remind her that she isn't elected either.
- Dee, London, 09/03/2009 11:00
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She was taken into custardy
- Jeanette, London, 09/03/2009 10:59
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An MBE for Ms Deen please!
- Neil M., london uk,, 09/03/2009 10:43
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Seems quite funny to me. I think it is a fair assessment of the situation.
- Real, London, 09/03/2009 10:27
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