23 May 2024 , 07:52
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Rishi Sunak kicked off the Tory election campaign in east London this evening- by ejecting a Sky News reporter from the building live on air.
Journalist Darren McCaffrey was escorted from the ExCel Centre in London shortly before the prime minister gave his speech.
The political correspondant was told he and his crew had been denied entry because footage from the event would be ‘pooled’, meaning other broadcasters would be obliged to share it amongst themselves.
As he was being ‘forcibly removed’ from the room, Darren said: ‘We just simply wanted to have access tonight, but unfortunately, we are told that because there are pool arrangements in place, we are not allowed to be here.’
Sky News’ political correspondent and crew are currently being FOLLOWED BY SECURITY around the circumference of the ExCel centre, to ensure he doesn’t even get anywhere near the building where our glorious leader, Kim Jong Sunak, is launching his campaign for your vote. SHAMBLES. https://t.co/21DHikFehu pic.twitter.com/BmjTJRhuFH
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) May 22, 2024
He added that it is ‘not entirely clear’ why he is not being allowed in the room.
Speaking to the Independent after the speech, a producer said ‘We told them we were going on live and they were like “we don’t care”.
‘We weren’t going to stop filming. It was absolutely ridiculous, absolute nonsense. If they don’t want us here then why did they invite us?
‘Now they’ve locked all our stuff away and I have to wait for everyone to clear out before I can pick up my cameraman’s bag.’
Sky News reporter Darren McCaffrey was forcibly removed from the event (Picture: Sky News)
Sunak used the event to relaunch his election campign after a wet start at Downing St (Picture: Getty Images)
The crew could later be seen broadcasting from outside the building while a large security guard loomed in the background behind them to ensure they didn’t try to re-enter.
Sunak meanwhile used his speech at the EdExcel centre to refocus his election message to an audience of activists and party loyalists after his official announcement was drowned out in a literal and metaphorical sense by heavy rainfall and loud music played by nearby activists.
With his sodden jacket ditched and his sleeves rolled up, the Prime Minister’s mood appeared to be one of excitement, though some of his Cabinet looked a little more serious and nervous.
Supporters cheered every time Mr Sunak praised his Government’s record and grunted at every mention of Sir Keir Starmer.
‘The only certainty with Labour is that they will run out of money,” he said.
The prime minister said Labour would scrap the Rwanda policy and ‘enact a de facto amnesty for asylum-seekers, making us a magnet for every illegal immigrant in Europe’.