Ukip MP Douglas Carswell says he felt his safety was 'seriously at risk' after he was surrounded by anti-austerity protesters

'It was like a lynch mob on the streets of London', says the Ukip MP

Douglas Carswell is escorted by police after being surrounded by protesters during an anti-austerity protest following the Queen's Speech (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said he felt his "safety was at risk" after he was surrounded by anti-austerity protesters as he left Westminster after the Queen's Speech.

The former Tory said he had been left "in a state of shock" after he was confronted by demonstrators who chanted "Ukip scum" at him before he was escorted away by police.

He said: "It got extremely, extremely nasty. Their intentions were pretty murderous and I needed a lot of police officers to prevent them from attacking me.

"I was stunned. I think MPs should be able to go about their business. It was incredibly intimidating. It was like a lynch mob on the streets of London. I thought this was a country where we had democracy and discussed the issues."

Demonstrators have been gathering in London to protest against cuts after the Queen's speech outlined the new Conservative Government's plans.

The Press Association has put the figure at about 200, while The Mirror has described "thousands" as being at the event.

Mr Carswell, Ukip's only MP, said he was taking part in a peaceful discussion with a small group of demonstrators before he was confronted by a larger group.

He said: "It just got incredibly ugly. It was an attempted lynching. I am in a state of shock. I do not want to have to worry about going about my business."

He went on to say: "If the police had not been there I do not think I would be here now my safety was very, very seriously at risk. I have never seen such hatred.

"If this is the way the extreme left behave now, I do not think it bodes well for the future."

One protester, who did not want to identified, said Mr Carswell had a bottle of water thrown over him as he was surrounded by demonstrators.

Police officers assist UKIP MP Douglas Carswell outside St James's Park underground station during an anti-austerity demonstration in London (AFP/Getty)

He said: "Douglas Carswell was in St James' Tube, someone spotted him and everyone rushed over.

"Everyone was chanting and he was stuck. The police had to push through the crowd and he got a bottle of water thrown over him.

"Then police put him in a van and he was driven away."

According to reports, there were skirmishes between police and protesters as some of the demonstrators, including some wearing masks and scarves, ran down Whitehall.

One group also staged a sit-down protest by Trafalgar Square, stopping traffic in the area.

Andy Dent, 39, who runs a joinery business and lives in Surrey, told PA: "The Tories give tax cuts for the rich, they want to bring back fox hunting - they are trying to turn this country back into Victorian England.

"There are people out there who can't stand up for themselves, but that's what Britain is supposed to be about - helping the underdog and doing the right thing.

"We are going to see more protests when we see what the Tories do when they don't have the Lib Dems holding them back."

Additional reporting by PA