Villagers near JD Vance's Cotswold's mansion claim they were 'quizzed by police for social media details' as VP's security lockdown sparks outrage among locals

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

British police protecting JD Vance have denied claims officers ordered villagers living near the US Vice President's Oxfordshire holiday home to hand over their social media details as part of a major security lockdown measure.
Donald Trump 's deputy has been touring the Cotswolds and south of England with his wife, Usha, and children Ewan, eight, Vivek, five and Mirabel, three - while also meeting with high-power figures in British politics.
But the ring of steel surrounding the Vice President and his family has proven to be a headache for locals in the sleepy communities of Chipping Norton and Dean, with Vance's 18-strong motorcade causing mayhem through the picturesque rural idylls.
Now, people living within the security cordon around Vance's rental Cotswold manor house, have claimed the stringent measures to protect the American politician saw cops ordering them to hand over the account names of their social media profiles.
Thames Valley Police insisted villagers living in the security buffer in Dean were only spoken to by officers to ensure they could pass through the blockade unhindered. The force vehemently denies people were asked about their social media accounts.
However, speaking to the Observer, one dog walker from hamlet said: 'We have had the police knocking on every door. They wanted the names of everybody living there and details of their social media. I know several people refused.
'We asked them if they were protecting us, or Vance. At least they were honest and said it is for him and that it will all be passed on to the American security people.'
The claims have since sparked a row on social media, with Academic Professor Marc Owen Jones - who is a British disinformation expert at the Northwestern University in Qatar - branding the allegation 'appalling'.
'The police are asking local Cotswolds residents for their social media handles to be passed onto (sic) JD Vance's security detail. Glad to hear some people refused,' he wrote on X. 'Honestly the nerve of it, especially for the man who criticised Europe for censorship.'
Another person wrote: 'Under what authority are they requesting people's social media identities? I sincerely hope everybody told them to f*ck off.'
Speaking to the Daily Mail amid the furore, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police insisted officers did not ask for details of people's online profiles - and that the Vice President's security detail had not requested officers to obtain such information.
'Thames Valley Police is supporting the United States during the Vice President's visit to our area to ensure the safety of all involved,' the official said this morning.
'A restricted access area has been put in place in a small part of Dean as part of our operation.
'We spoke to affected residents to ensure we are able to facilitate movement within the restricted access area. Residents were under no obligation to answer any questions and were not asked about social media.'
News of the row comes after Jeremy Clarkson joined the Cotswolds backlash against holidaying US Vice President yesterday.
The presenter revealed his new summer neighbour has interrupted the filming of Clarkson's Farm as the secret service swarms the surrounding countryside and a no–fly zone has been put in place.
Police are seen manning a security check point on a road in the Hamlet of Dean where Mr Vance is staying at a rented holiday house with his family
The vice presidents 18-strong motorcade has caused misery for locals in the Cotswolds. It has led to roads in Chipping Norton (pictured) being closed
The Vice President's visit to the Cotswolds has already attracted some criticism with locals complaining of disruption and left–leaning protesters flocking to the area.
Motoring journalist-turned-farmer Clarkson said the one–mile no fly zone around Vance's Cotswolds manor house rental is preventing drone cameramen on his Amazon Prime show from doing their job.
The no fly zone has been set up for security reasons while Mr Vance is in residence in the hamlet of Dean for the rest of August.
He posted a picture on Instagram showing the no-fly zone, including his own farm, Curdle Hill Farm – also known as Diddly Squat because, he has claimed, that's how much money he stands to make from it.
The TV star captioned the map: 'The JD Vance no fly zone. We are the pin. So on the downside, no drone shots today. On the upside, no annoying light aircraft.'
And Clarkson isn't the only one frustrated by Vance's presence in Chipping Norton, with the presenter's right hand man Kaleb Cooper complaining that the extra security had derailed him from his own farming duties.
The Vice President's visit has already attracted criticism with locals complaining of disruption and left–leaning protesters flocking to the area (Pictured: a small protest in Chevening ahead of Mr Vance's visit)
A woman hold up a Colin the Caterpillar cake with a picture of the JD Vance meme as part of protests against Vance's visit to the UK
And it's not just Clarkson who has had a run in with the US vice president.
The former Top Gear presenter turned farmer's right hand man Kaleb Cooper also had an encounter.
In a comment on Instagram the farmhand revealed that his own farming duties were derailed by the Republican politician's visit.
The farmer – who has his own land and has spun out a successful entertainment career of his own – said his wheat transportation was held up by the convoy as it passed through Chipping Norton.
He also slammed Vance for his conspicuous presence in the area, writing on Instagram: 'My wheat got wet in the trailer last night as the convo stopped me in the rain in Chippy.
'I could easily have went on my way and got it in the shed without getting in the way.'
Adding several laughing emojis, he noted: '(If) he had just drove around in a VW Polo nobody would know who he was.'
The Daily Mail revealed the close proximity of Mr Vance's manor house rental to Clarkson's farm last week.
The enormous property, Dean Manor, is located in a tiny hamlet of just 12 houses in Oxfordshire, and was picked out by US secret service personnel because of its remote secure location.
Stone walls 15ft tall protect its immaculately manicured six–acre gardens.
The house, which was built 1702 in the reign of Queen Anne, is surrounded by teams of US secret service operatives dressed in regulation navy blue sports jackets and khaki chino trousers who are guarding the property around the clock.
The manor house's owner, Pippa Hornby, was also sworn to secrecy on the imminent arrival of her new high–profile tenant.
It is believed the rental may cost as much as £8,000 a week.
When asked by the Daily Mail about JD Vance's rental of her home, she would only say: 'Thanks so much but we have no comment to make.'
Locals however were rather more forthcoming and confirmed the upcoming arrival of Donald Trump's deputy yesterday, while the activity around the manor house itself left little doubt that a very prominent high profile American political figure was indeed on their way.
In the grounds of Dean Manor, American secret service personnel in dark glasses, talking into ear–pieces, were dotted around its four corners keeping watch.
On the main gateway of the property, leading to a sweeping 'in and out' driveway, two suited security guards were checking the security clearance of those coming and going in a stream of blacked out cars and Mercedes limousine vans.
In an adjoining field, an impromptu circular helicopter landing pad had also been mown into the grass.
Within the grounds, teams of gardeners had been drafted in to make the lawns and pretty herbaceous borders look immaculate.
Cars and security guards at the £8,000 a week manor house built in 1702 in the reign of Queen Anne and previously owned by Tory peer Peter Selwyn Gummer, Baron Chadlington
The vice presidential convoy making its way through Chipping Norton with blacked out windows
Officers are checking the identity of residents trying to pass through the security cordon, watched on by dozens of Secret Service agents
Dean Manor is famous for its picturesque gardens, viewable by appointment – but the manor has been locked down for Mr Vance's visit between the middle and the end of August.
Beyond its high honey–coloured Cotswold stone walls, it is surrounded by woodland with the occasional public footpath and public bridleway running nearby.
Fittingly for right–wing Republican Vice President Mr Vance, the manor house has a history of Tory political figures as previous owners.
It even has a former Tory Prime Minister living a very short stroll away.
Dean Manor was built in 1702 for local Oxford Tory MP Thomas Rowney and is grade II listed.
It was until recently owned by Tory peer Peter Selwyn Gummer, Baron Chadlington.
Former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron – who is also known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton – also lives in Dean with his wife Samantha and he has a permanent team of armed Metropolitan Police Protection officers at his home there.
Dean Manor is about as close a neighbouring property to Clarkson's own Cotswolds home, Curdle Hill Farm, better known as Diddly Squat Farm, can be.
They are a mile apart as the crow flies, separated mainly by Clarkson's own arable fields.
One local who did not wish to be named said: 'Dean Manor is as close as possible to Mr Clarkson's farm house as can be. I'm willing to bet Clarkson can see it out of his bedroom window.'
More signs were placed along gates and fences in the local area as part of the backlash against Vance's visit
All of which might make Clarkson feel a little awkward this summer after he made a particularly caustic attack on the very same JD Vance in a recent Sunday Times column of his.
In March of this year, probably around the time that the US Vice President and his secret service operatives were making plans for his Cotswolds summer break, Clarkson issued a strong response to Mr Vance following his comments about the British and French armed forces.
Vance was recently condemned for describing the UK as 'some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years' amid rising tensions between Europe and the US as to how Ukraine can be supported in their conflict with Russia.
The US vice president was accused of erasing the experience of Britons who served in Iraq and Afghanistan after his latest tirade against America's European allies.
Vance told Fox News: 'If you want to actually ensure that Vladimir Putin does not invade Ukraine again, the very best security guarantee is to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine.
'I've searched for the right word to describe him and I think it's "t**t". He also has no clue about history.
'Because far more recently than 30 or 40 years ago, as Vance claimed last week, our brave young men were being blown to pieces in some godforsaken desert to support whatever madcap scheme the American president had embarked upon that week.
'And let's not forget that while they were out there, dying in agony, the UK was still paying the US back for all the weapons we'd bought from them to defeat Hitler in the Second World War. In fact, the last payment for all their 'help' was for £43m in 2006.
'And while we are on the subject of the Second World War, let's not forget that what Trump is doing in Ukraine is like Franklin Roosevelt saying to Churchill: "Look, Hitler has taken Poland so just let him have it".'