Journalist Owen Jones was asked to leave the Labour conference due to safeguarding concerns, as confirmed by the party. The outspoken supporter of Jeremy Corbyn criticized Labour, likening their actions to those of former US President Trump, and expressed surprise at having his pass revoked for the first time.
In a statement posted online, Jones condemned Labour’s decision, calling it “pathetic” and accusing the party of trying to stifle questions about Britain’s involvement in facilitating what he referred to as Israel’s genocide. He highlighted his long history of filming videos at both Labour and Tory conferences, aiming to pose questions to ministers that mainstream media outlets often overlook. This recent pass revocation, he noted, followed years of unrestricted access.
The party justified its action in an email to Jones, citing safeguarding obligations to all conference attendees. Labour emphasized the need to maintain a safe and inclusive environment for everyone present, leading to the decision to restrict Jones’ participation in the event.
While Jones is no longer part of the current conference, he has the opportunity to reapply for a pass in the coming years. The party reiterated that their decision was made with the wellbeing of all participants in mind.
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