Steerpike Steerpike

Labour kick Owen Jones out of conference

Owen Jones, acting out a faux-flounce (The Guardian)

Much of Labour conference has seen MPs taking aim at Nigel Farage and his Reform party, but it would appear some left-wingers have ended up in the firing line too. Onetime Labour member and all-time general annoyance Owen Jones had been running around Liverpool vox-popping politicians and delegates with his cameraman – but he managed to get on the wrong side of the party and was rather embarrassingly informed today that his conference pass had been, er, cancelled. Yikes!

In an email to Jones, Labour’s conference team informed the lefty that his access had been revoked over ‘safeguarding’ issues. The email stated:

We have a responsibility to safeguard all our delegates, staff, volunteers, and visitors, and to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone at conference. After careful consideration, we’ve concluded that we cannot continue your attendance while ensuring we meet our safeguarding obligations to all attendees.

Ouch. A pretty unhappy Jones took to Twitter to announce his ban, writing furiously: 

Absolutely pathetic, Trumpian behaviour. They are here suggesting that attempts to question Cabinet members and MPs about Britain facilitating Israel’s genocide is a ‘safeguarding issue’. This is clearly insane.

The move came just hours before Sir Keir Starmer’s big conference speech. How convenient…

Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Topics in this article

Comments