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  1. Spotlight on Policy
  2. Elections
1 May 2010updated 27 Sep 2015 2:21am

Gordon Brown v the Heckler

Four days after Bigotgate, another encounter with an “ordinary” voter.

By Jon Bernstein

Was it only a week ago that Labour high command switched strategy and said they wanted Gordon Brown to get out and meet the people? Four days on from his encounter in Rochdale with Gillian Duffy, the PM was on seemingly safer territory talking to Labour supporters at an event in the north-east.

But when he was heckled, the scene soon resembled the Walter Wolfgang moment at the 2005 party conference.

The shots captured below show the moment when Julian Borthwick is removed by Labour Party supporters after shouting questions at Brown during a visit to the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. Apparently, Borthwick’s beef was broadband access in the north-east. Surely not?

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Meanwhile, here’s David Cameron earlier this week, tackling a heckler of his own.

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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