Guardian: Minister apologises for ejecting party veteran over Iraq

[leftchick]

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1580569,00.html

What should have been an erudite defence of UK foreign policy in Iraq and the wider Muslim world by Jack Straw to the Labour conference faithful descended into a PR debacle when Labour stewards were seen to eject a pensioner by the scruff of his neck for voicing his opinion.

The foreign secretary had been explaining why British troops should stay in Iraq when the 82-year-old lifelong Labour party member heckled him, shouting "nonsense" and "it's a lie".

To the horror of delegates and later of TV viewers, Walter Wolfgang appeared to be grabbed by the collar from his seat and manhandled out of the Brighton venue. When another delegate, Steve Forrest, tried to protect him, he also was ejected and had his credentials removed.

As the ejection was played out on news bulletins, party officials finally realised the damage the images were wreaking, playing straight into the hands of critics who have contended that Labour stifles dissenting views among its members.

[Missy M]

1. Sounds just like here in bush's America.

[non sociopath skin]

2. More about this on the UK Forum ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=191x11100

It seems that Mr. Wolfgang was a refugee from Nazi Germany.

Must have felt just like old times for him.

The Skin

[Bob3]

3. I'm sorry I got caught - next time no cameras

N/T

[Taxloss]

4. Blair has also now apologised.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour2005/story/0,16394,1580806,00.html

A bit slow off the mark.

[Nihil]

5. Only with a typical "Blair apology" though

The Guardian is reporting Blair's appearance on the Radio 4 Today
programme this morning saying "Tony Blair today personally apologised
to the 82-year-old Labour delegate".

In the programme itself, however, Blair actually only apologised for
the event (i.e., for being caught on camera), not to the man himself.

"Asked if he would apologise face-to-face to Mr Wolfgang, the prime
minister said he did not think he would be meeting him, saying "I can't
do anything more than apologise profusely"."

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4292342.stm)

No surprises there then ...

[Taxloss]

6. This is cheering: He was given a hero's return today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4292342.stm

[leftchick]

7. I found his photo...

what a cute old fellow....



Walter Wolfgang is asked to leave during Jack Straw’s speech

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/29/nlab129.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/09/29/ixnewstop.html

[yellowcanine]

8. I thought the British system allowed public dissent and heckling.

"Question Time" in Parliment is a real circus. The governing party and the opposition basically try to out shout each other with backbenchers getting their licks in when they can. This is how it has been for a long time in Britain. Apparently the current government is so unsure of their Iraq policy that they decided to begin stifling dissent even in a party conference. Shameful.