Heckler Treatment

[jasmine]

Labour conference organisers are facing complaints they were too heavy handed in throwing out an 82-year-old heckler.

Walter Wolfgang, from London, was ejected from the hall after shouting "nonsense" as Foreign Secretary Jack Straw defended Iraq policy.

Delegate Carol Hayton protested during a later debate that Mr Wolfgang had been "manhandled".
She was told conference organisers were investigating the incident and would report on Thursday.

A man sitting next to Mr Wolfgang was also thrown out after complaining about his treatment.
A Labour Party spokesman said: "Following a disturbance in the visitors' balcony, two people were escorted out, having been asked three times to be quiet."

news.bbc.co.uk

Whatever happened to free speech?! This was an 82 year old man for god's sake, who's only crime was to shout "nonsense"

[jasmine]

Walter Wolfgang, the elderly man who was strong-armed out of the Labour Party conference, has returned as a delegate.

Mr Wolfgang, 82, was greeted by a barrage of news cameras and photographers as he arrived at the Brighton Centre.

He made a short statement to the press about his ejection from the conference by what he described as "hired heavies", during Jack Straw's speech about the war in Iraq.


He told reporters: "You cannot stifle debate by hiring heavies."

He went on: "We made a mistake, I believe, in invading Iraq without cause. We've got to rectify it by withdrawing from Iraq.

"We would make another mistake, if we now have another set of nuclear weapons. We must avoid making that mistake."

He added: "Compared to these big issues, what happened yesterday isn't really important."

Mr Wolfgang was applauded by delegates as he made his way to the conference hall.

Tony Blair issued a personal apology to Mr Wolfgang and many delegates came out in support of him after his ejection.

www.channel4.com/news