Labour's shame

[Behind Enemy Lines]

It comes to something when an 82 year old man can't even voice his disapproval about one of the most controversial policies since the end of the second world war. What an absolute disgrace it was that Walter Wolfgang, was forcibly removed from the conference for daring to shout "nonsense." Surely the Foreign Secretary can handle a bit of heckling? Shame on them.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Anyone else recognise the black steward guy that helped chuck him out??

 

[Faldo]

Dwayne?

 

[Chicken Run]

Anyone else recognise the black steward guy that helped chuck him out??

Wasnt he one of Mugabe's Generals

 

[CHAPPERS]

I recognised him from watching the albion, way back in the goldstone days...

 

[bailey]

To the guy with the "John Prescott's mother cooks socks" sign at the march - I'd get outta town buddy

 

[London Calling]

Reminiscent of a Hitler Nazi rally. Apparently the Police charged him under anti-terrorist legislation. Heard Blair on Radio 5 apologising because he was a 82 year old but saying "you can't heckle theough speeches". Heckle. He said "nonsense" once.

If that is democracy Blair, give me Hussain!

LC

 

[Stinky Kat]

Reminiscent of a Hitler Nazi rally. Apparently the Police charged him under anti-terrorist legislation. Heard Blair on Radio 5 apologising because he was a 82 year old but saying "you can't heckle theough speeches". Heckle. He said "nonsense" once.

If that is democracy Blair, give me Hussain!

LC

Exactly where is the freedom of speech. Why cant the old boy disagree with one of the murdering liars that invaded oil rich Iraq

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Dwayne?

boom boom.

 

[London Calling]

From the Telegraph.
Labour had to apologise to an 82-year-old activist last night after he was roughly thrown out of the party conference for heckling Jack Straw on Iraq.


Walter Wolfgang, 82, was ejected from the conference for heckling
The leadership faced angry protests from MPs and party members who accused it of stifling dissent and abandoning traditions of free speech.

The Foreign Secretary was telling the conference that Britain was in Iraq "for one reason only" - to help the elected Iraqi government - when Walter Wolfgang shouted: "That's a lie and you know it."

Mr Wolfgang, a refugee from Nazi Germany and a Labour Party member since 1948, was immediately surrounded by security staff in full view of the television cameras and ejected from the hall in Brighton as officials revoked his pass.

When he tried to re-enter the secure zone, he was stopped by a police officer citing the Terrorism Act.

Steve Forrest, the chairman of Erith and Thamesmead Labour Party, was also thrown out after complaining about Mr Wolfgang's treatment.

He said that five security guards moved close to him in an intimidating manner after he shouted "Hear, hear" during an anti-war speech in debate.

A few minutes later, as Mr Wolfgang was being escorted away, he protested: "Leave him alone, he's an old man." At that point he was hauled out himself.

He said: "Where is the democracy in this party? It seems that the leadership is full of paranoia."

Mr Wolfgang, a vice-president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said the episode showed how intolerant the Labour Party had become.

"A few years ago nobody would have objected to anyone heckling like that." He said a Labour official had told him that the reason he was thrown out was because he had been asked several times to be quiet and had taken no notice.

But Mr Wolfgang said that was not true. He had received no warning before being thrown out by "two toughies".

He said: "When you have an international debate that does not deal adequately with the international issues of the day, the least you can do, if someone is talking nonsense, is say so."

At first Sussex police denied that Mr Wolfgang had been detained or searched but a spokesman later admitted that he had been issued with a section 44 stop and search form under the Terrorism Act.

Mr Wolfgang said: "We have reached a situation where freedom of expression has been threatened. I am not surprised, because the Labour Party has been taken over by a gang of adventurers who are on their way out."

Alice Mahon, the former MP for Halifax and a prominent anti-war campaigner, said she saw several security guards "dive" on Mr Wolfgang.

"This other chap a couple of rows in front turned round and said, 'You must be joking,' because this was simple political heckling. He wasn't threatening anybody. He got manhandled out as well. I think the security people were really over the top."

Linda Riordan, the current MP for Halifax, said: "We have had one speaker in this debate on Iraq and we have 8,000 troops there. The silence on Iraq at this conference is deafening, absolutely deafening."

Labour later said that the way Mr Wolfgang had been treated was "inappropriate" and that it would apologise to him. But officials would not say if he or Mr Forrest would be allowed back in for today's final session.

 

[Blackadder]

A few years ago (not that many) a female heckler in Russia was actually sedated by someone with a syringe! It was caught by cameras on the BBC news!

 

[Parson Henry]

A few years ago (not that many) a female heckler in Russia was actually sedated by someone with a syringe! It was caught by cameras on the BBC news!

I wouldn't mind having that at someone of our less illustrious games!!!

 

[Blackadder]

I wouldn't mind having that at someone of our less illustrious games!!!

Less Illustrious games? No such thing Perry Bloke!

 

[Parson Henry]

Less Illustrious games? No such thing Perry Bloke!

Ok maybe for the 'boys' on the train home. I think you know what I mean.

 

[Blackadder]

Ok maybe for the 'boys' on the train home. I think you know what I mean.

Yes I do!

 

[London Irish]

Good old Walter. Has been working away for years as head of Labour CND on peace and nuclear disarmament issues, hope he gets a wider audience now.

He's an example of how not all us Labour party members have been Blairised.

 

[Jam The Man]

Anyone else recognise the black steward guy that helped chuck him out??

Absolutely.. he stood behind me in the North Stand (RIP) during the 91-92 season until he got banned for invading the pitch (Southend match I think).. he was a mate of a mate. He still looks exactly the same now as he did 13 years ago!

 

[Chicken Run]

Good old Walter. Has been working away for years as head of Labour CND on peace and nuclear disarmament issues, hope he gets a wider audience now.

He's an example of how not all us Labour party members have been Blairised.

How nice LI

 

[H block]

Let that be a warning to all football fans for saturday now that security in the Brighton area has got so stringent. If the referee against Norwhich turns down our penalty appeals do not under any circumstances jump from your seat and utter the word ``nonsense``

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Let that be a warning to all football fans for saturday now that security in the Brighton area has got so stringent. If the referee against Norwhich turns down our penalty appeals do not under any circumstances jump from your seat and utter the word ``nonsense``

Good call.

Will it still be okay to call him a c.unt and question his parentage?