Supporters jostle at Lib Dem candidate's campaign launch

5:05am Saturday 7th July 2007

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GREG STONE originally said he was going to "plant the flag" in Trimdon.

But yesterday, the Liberal Democrat candidate was prevented from placing a placard on the green by Labour activists, who held up their own placards and shouted and jostled their political rivals.

The Lib Dems had chosen the village -home of the now world-famous Trimdon Labour Club, from where Tony Blair confirmed he would resign as PM.

However, their official campaign launch descended into farce as Mr Stone tried to make a speech. Labour activists accused the 32-year-old Newcastle city councillor of being a being a "four-time reject" and was told to "get back to Tyneside".

He was then enveloped in a scrum of pushing and shoving from rival supporters as they vied for media attention.

Mr Stone said: "I think what we have seen here today shows that Labour feel threatened by the Liberal Democrats.

"We wanted to take the campaign into the Labour heartlands and we wanted to get the message across that Sedgefield has faced years of neglect under Labour rule."

Mr Stone, a regeneration expert, was chosen as the Lib Dem candidate earlier this week, and is calling for action locally to tackle crime, improve the NHS and regenerate Newton Aycliffe shopping centre.

Mr Stone accused the Labour Party and its candidate, Phil Wilson -a former advisor to Mr Blair -of running scared.

He was joined by the North-East's longest serving MP, Alan Beith, and fellow Lib Dem Andrew Stunell, the MP for Hazel Grove, in Stockport.

Mr Stunell said: "I was disappointed about the reaction and I think the Prime Minister, as was, would have been disappointed.

"He said in his final words that we should have respect for each other's points of view and that has clearly not happened today."

Former Mayor of Sedgefield and Labour Sedgefield Borough councillor for Trimdon, Lucy Hovvels, saw the disturbance.

She said: "That was certainly not how I would have done it.

"I would implore all members from all parties to behave in a professional manner.

"I think we have got to have a sensible approach to campaigning, after all we are out there in the communities we represent."

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