Labour candidate 'manhandled' whilst challenging Boris Johnson

Angie Bray has apologised - via twitter - after footage and photos showed one of her party workers apparently dragging Labour candidate Rupa Huq away from Boris Johnson.

The prospective member for Ealing Central and Acton had been challenging the Mayor, when he was on the campaign trail with Ms Bray along Churchfield Road in Acton.

Footage shows Conservative leaflets being thrust in her face and a party activist apparently manhandling Ms Huq as she questioned the London Mayor. Angie Bray has asked the man, who has been named locally as Karim Sacoor to step down from her campaign team.

There has been outrage from the Labour Party who posted a video of the incident accompanied by the hashtag #nastyparty. Rupa Huq says she was on her own at the time and claims that initially Conservative party members had told the BBC that she had 'gone berserk' during the incident but that this was quickly retracted once footage of the incident emerged.

Rupa Huq said, ''Boris Johnson tries to create the impression he’s all positive and fun, but he can’t deal with any real scrutiny. I was trying to ask him serious questions about issues affecting Ealing, and to be grabbed and shoved around by his supporters is disappointing.

“Boris Johnson and his team owe me an apology – it’s about the example politicians like him set to people, particularly around how women are treated.  If figures like Boris Johnson want to engage with voters, they can’t react to questioning by manhandling people. You wouldn’t accept it in other walks of life, and people expect better from the Mayor of London.''

WATCH: In #Acton, Dr @RupaHuq tries to debate Boris as @ECATories hit her in the face with leaflets #NastyParty: https://t.co/oVQuy8en9f

— Ealing Labour Party (@EalingLabour) May 1, 2015

When challenged on twitter Ms Bray said she apologised to Rupa Huq and has asked the party worker to leave her team.

@SCNathan it was unfortunately inexcusable even in heat of the moment and I have told him to step down from my team. We apologize to Rupa.

— Angie Bray (@AngieBray2015) May 2, 2015

 

Ms Huq says: '' I have not had a direct apology from anyone from the Conservative party -  including Angie Bray. I don't regard the one that has appeared on twitter as a real apology.

''We are running an active, positive campaign and will continue to do so regardless of the underhand tactics employed by the opposition.''

Nominations for Ealing Central and Acton Seat: Jon BALL - Lib Dems. Angie BRAY - Conservatives. Scott DORE - Workers Revolutionary Party. Peter FLORENCE - UK Independence Party (UKIP). Rupa HUQ - Labour. Tammy RENDLE - Above and Beyond. Andrzej RYGIELSKI - Europeans Party. Tom SHARMAN - The Green party

2nd May 2015