General election: Sky News removed from Tory campaign launch

       A Sky News reporter was dragged out of a Conservative Party campaign event on camera just minutes before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was due to get on stage.

       The broadcaster's political correspondent Darren McCaffrey appeared on camera just as he was being dragged out in a hallway by security.

       Speaking to Sophy Ridge, Mr McCaffrey said as he was being removed from a room: "I am currently at the Conservative Party [campaign] launch, this is where the Prime Minister is going to speak in the next few minutes, and I am being forcibly removed."

       While both the journalist and the camera operator were forced to walk down a hallway, far from where the event would soon begin, Mr McCaffrey continued: "We just simply wanted to have access tonight as Sky News, but unfortunately we are told that because of a pool arrangement in place, we are not allowed to be here."

       Conservative activists gathered at the ExCel venue in east London to attend an event officially launching the General Election campaign of the Tory party.

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       Darren McCaffrey was removed by security from the event (Image: SKY NEWS)

       The Sky News political correspondent noted about the key rally: "What we are trying to film is the campaign event where the Prime Minister is due to speak in the next couple of minutes, is in front of Conservative activists, is effectively trying to get across the message that we had in Downing Street today from the Prime Minister talking about stability, I am sure he is going to talk about the decision he has made."

       The journalist referred to the announcement delivered at 5pm today outside of his Downing Street residence, when he told Britons they would be called to the polls on July 4.

       Mr McCaffrey added, as he was urged to leave the hallway entirely: "But, as you can see, we don't have access to it. It's not entirely clear why we don't have access to it."

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       Darren McCaffrey is Sky News political correspondent (Image: SKY NEWS)

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       After being forced to cut his camera appearance short, the journalist reappeared on screen to claim he had been thrown out not just from the room where the Prime Minister would speak, but also from the whole building.

       Mr Sunak was welcomed on the ExCel stage after an introduction by Home Secretary James Cleverly, who accused Labour leader Keir Starmer of being "weak, indecisive, completely contradictory".

       Joining him on stage, Mr Sunak asked activists in the crowd who they trusted, claiming the only certainty coming with a Labour government would be higher taxes.

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