Heckler tries to ruin Gordon Brown's visit

May 2 2010 Sunday Sun

GORDON Brown’s appeal to Labour’s heartland hit the rails less than halfway through as a lone heckler in Sunderland brought a well-managed campaign crashing down.

Julian Borthwick, 38, was forced out of the National Glass Centre in Sunderland after interrupting a speech by the Labour leader.

Mr Borthwick, visiting family on Wearside, accused Mr Brown of hiding behind stage managed appearances and refusing to meet real voters.

The Oxford law graduate, originally from Sunderland and now living in London, shouted at the PM “we’re broke” and “what about that bigoted woman?”.

Labour supporters cheered as Mr Borthwick was pushed out by party members as the PM continued with his speech.

Mr Borthwick was immediately mobbed by reporters and television crews and launched into a stinging attack on Mr Brown and the Labour party.

Dressed in brown trousers and tweed jacket, Mr Borthwick said he was out for lunch with his parents when he noticed the speech taking place.

The single IT specialist stormed into a loud-mouthed challenge on Mr Brown after growing fed up with the PM’s list of Labour plans, including hopes for a new generation of broadband internet access.

He said: “We need a brake from all this spin, from the Mandelson Press machine.

“Real politicians are going around talking to real people and Mr Brown isn’t doing that. Mr Brown needs to see real electors, not just hand-picked people.”

One of those who helped bundle out Mr Borthwick was Claire Phillipson, mother of Labour’s 25-year-old Houghton and Sunderland South candidate Bridget Phillipson.

Afterwards Mrs Phillipson, who is director of Wearside Women in Need, said: “I’m just annoyed. It was rude and it was discourteous.

“It wasn’t an open party meeting, but you listen and allow people to finish and then ask questions.”

Other Labour party activists said they wouldn’t have been upset if their colleagues had opted for a “Prescott moment” when dealing with Mr Borthwick.