A SKY News presenter has hit out after being “forcibly removed” from Rishi Sunak’s first rally of the General Election campaign.
On Wednesday evening, hours after the Prime Minister announced Brits will vote on July 4 just outside No 10, political correspondent Darren McCaffrey can be seen on live TV being pushed out of the room (below) where the campaign launch was being held.
Sky's political correspondent @darrenmccaffrey is removed from Rishi Sunak's campaign launch event.https://t.co/xItZsH7tea 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/q5ulqMMsoO
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 22, 2024
“This is where the Prime Minister is going to speak in the next few minutes and I’ve been forcibly removed,” the Sky News journalist said as he was physically pushed out of the room.
“We just simply wanted to have access tonight as Sky News but unfortunately we are told that because there were pool arrangements in place, we’re not allowed to be here.”
A media pool is when a limited number of news organisations pool resources and share footage.
Conservative activists gathered at the ExCel venue in east London to attend an event in which the party officially launched the General Election campaign.
Later on in the news segment, McCaffrey can be seen outside the venue being escorted by a security guard.
Many reacted with outrage at the treatment, with Sky News producer Josh Gafson saying on Twitter/X: “Conservative campaign launch update: Security are currently forcing our Sky News team out for no apparent reason.”
Political Editor at the Byline Times, Adam Bienkov, quoted Rishi Sunak in a tweet: “‘It is more important than ever [to support] the freedom for journalists to inform, investigate and report without fear or favour’ - Rishi Sunak speaking last month.”
Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer added: “The Tory campaign is just going to be Sideshow Bob standing on rakes for six weeks.”
