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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Rachael Burford

'Trumpian behaviour': Owen Jones banned from Labour Conference

Owen Jones has claimed he was barred from Labour Party Conference for questioning ministers about the war in Gaza.

The left-wing commentator had his pass to the event revoked on Tuesday on “safeguarding” grounds.

He accused Labour of “Trumpian behaviour” over the action, which means he is now unable to attend speeches and panel discussions in the secure zone in Liverpool city centre.

Rivkah Brown, a journalist working for the left-wing publication Novara Media, said she also had her conference pass cancelled.

Mr Jones tweeted: “Labour has cancelled my Conference Pass. 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.”

He added: “Labour have revoked the conference passes of two left-wing journalists. Meanwhile, GB News have a massive on site studio, fuelled by a constant supply of smiling Labour ministers. Tells you all you need to know.”

Mr Jones, who quit the Labour Party last March, was a supporter of former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

At the time, he said he was leaving because the party would not “even do the bare minimum to improve people’s lives”.

He has also been highly critical of the party’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.

A screenshot of an email from “Team Labour”, posted on X by Mr Jones, said: “I’m 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.”

It added that the action had been taken because “we have a responsibility to safeguard all of our delegates, staff, volunteers, and visitors, and to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for everyone at conference”.

A Labour source said Mr Jones’ pass was revoked after the party received complaints relating to his conduct towards other attendees at conference.

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