General Chat

An 82 year old man was forcibly ejected by stewards from the Labour Conference at Brighton after shouting 'Nonsense' during Jack Straw's comments about the Iraq war. He was refused re-entry under the new Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nice to see it being put to good use.

I saw that on the news............I was DISGUSTED! FREE SPEECH.......where? Deanna x

I thought it was absolutely outrageous. To see the heavy gang manhandle an old man ...well....words fail me....BC.

Nice wasn't it Deanna. Was shocked at the force they used - and just for the use of that word! I'd have used something much stronger:)

I saw it as well and was absolutely disgusted. The Labour party have now apologised to the man concerned Tony and his cronies spout a lot about tackling bullying and mugging . They were guilty of it today. What happend to democracy and free speech? Bren

carry on tony your digging yourself a bigger hole everyday, an old lady jailed for not paying 50quid, to supplement councillors, an old man man handled, whose probably given you the freedom you enjoy mr blair, what next

Disgusting......poor man must have been pretty scared as well at his age. Think my language may have been stronger!

Apart from the bullying way the man was evicted, I'm also really annoyed that the police became involved and confiscated his pass when he tried to get back in, using the Prevention of Terrorism Act that has been rushed through! Is this what it's for? To stop people having their say?

Surely that's an abuse of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. How could anyone make a case for him being a terrorist, or even a potential threat? It just shows what happens when we allow the authorities to meddle with civil liberties. Do you remember when Blair was heckled at a speech to the Women's Institute a few years back? Nowadays they'd all be banged up with Council Tax protesters as cellmates.

I agree with you Twinkle - I had concerns about the Prevention of Terrorism Act anyway because of the civil liberties aspects. Makes you wonder what's been unleashed on us when in a democratic country someone can't even object in that way during a political speech. The coppers could do a good trade in the Houses of Parliament:)

they need to get out on the street to prevent terrorist, and is this terrorising the elderly anyway

Careful, everyone. There are eleven posts here disagreeing with the Government. Any more and GR will be reclassified as a terrorist cell.

Ah, but perhaps the old man was wearing a rucksack.

David, I've just seen it. I didn't see the first bit of it, only when Jack Straw noticed the stewards coming in. I wondered what that old man had done - then to hear the truth, I couldn't believe it! x

Can only echo what has gone before! Disgusted of Wiltshire

Just seen on the news that the 82 year old man 'will be allowed' back in to the conference today. How benevolent of them . Horse & stable door springs to mind and damage limitation. Diane:)

Apparently, there was another guy sat next to the pensioner who understandably complained about the manhandling. For his troubles, this guy also got ejected as well. Which leads me to think, what if everyone had got up and complained, would they have thrown everyone out and confiscated their passes and leave Jack Straw talking to himself - actually hang on, that's not a bad idea lol.

Yes, the more I see it, the worse it becomes David. what was it he shouted................NONSENSE! Wow, dangerous old man!!! Deanna X

Andy, It would be more effective if nobody went to listen to Jack Straw in the first place! I heard a bit of a radio news broadcast featuring Gordon Brown a couple of days ago. His praise for Tony Blair's modernisation programme sounded very hollow, but the determination he expressed to continue with it 'when' he takes over leadership scares me to death! He claims he's going to tour the whole of Britain and listen to what 'the people' want. I wonder if those will be the same carefully selected people in this area who were invited to hear our former MP (Labour Cabinet Minister) speak? I should perhaps be more careful what I say - after all, I'm getting old! CB >|<

Once more, our much-undervalued freedoms are chipped away at by the raft of half-baked laws already imposed by this government. An elderly heckler gets arrested for 'terrorism', yet the verbal and physical abuse of families engaged in a lawful business, suffering damage to their property and possessions, trespass and invasion of privacy, fear for their safety and their lives, and grave-robbing is ignored. Of course, perhaps the definition of “terrorism” includes “expressing disagreement with a member of the government in any way in a public place,” but does not bother getting involved with the defence of private individuals engaged in legal, if contentious, business. There was a time when MPs were the servants of the people; now they are becoming the masters. I do suspect that Tony will not budge until he is either booted out, or a suitable post (i.e. 'President') becomes available in Europe. The ever-more intrusive nature of politics and politicians is getting scary; they are getting to dictate what we think and say - the Thought Police are not far away. Rob