The firebrand left-wing journalist has exploded in anger at the Labour Party’s decision.
Owen Jones has been booted out of Labour conference (Image: Getty)
The left-wing firebrand journalist Owen Jones has been expelled from Labour conference sparking a furious free speech row. Mr Jones was spotted yesterday filming his annual Labour conference video, in which he chases after Cabinet Ministers to ask them tough and often awkward questions.
However he has revealed this morning he awoke to discover an email informing him he has now been banned from returning to the secure zone. He blasted: “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.”
Owen Jones at last year’s Labour conference (Image: Owen Jones Youtube)
He shared a screenshot of the email, in which Labour conference services informed him they were “writing to let you know that we’ve had to make the difficult decision to cancel your conference pass with immediate effect, following complaints we have received about your conduct.”
In a section entitled ‘Why we’ve taken this action’, the Labour Party said: “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.”
It means his conference pass is no longer valid and won’t be able to attend any further conference sessions.
However he will still be permitted to reapply for a pass in future years.
It’s the second prominent pass revocation this conference, after the Express revealed last night that a former Tory MP charged with sexual assault had been expelled.
Mr Jones’ social media followers voiced criticism of Labour’s decision, with accusations that it shows the party is lacking self-confidence in its policies.
Academic Luke Cooper encouraged social media users to make a formal complaint to the Labour Party.
In April last year Mr Jones sided with Nigel Farage after Belgian police shut down a right-wing conservative conference being attended by the Reform UK leader.
He branded the police shut down as a “disturbing attack on civil liberties”, adding: “If you support the right of the state to shut down your opponents, you legitimise the state wanting to shut you down, too.”
The Labour Party was approached for comment.
