Health Secretary Matt Hancock has condemned the "Labour hardliners" who booed, heckled and cried "liar!" when he decried antisemitism in their party.
Mr Hancock, who is seeking re-election as MP for West Suffolk, was speaking at a hustings in Haverhill on Friday evening when the group barracked and shouted over him as he spoke.
A video of the proceedings shows Mr Hancock discussing the government's much-derided pledge to boost the number of NHS nurses and being heckled and jeered in response.
He then raises antisemitism, saying: "There is one thing that I am more passionate which is ridding the antisemitic..."
The word "antisemitic" prompts huge jeers and cries of "Oh my God!" and "Shame on you! Liar!" which drown Mr Hancock out, though he continues speaking.
He refuses to hand over the microphone as the moderator tries to take it back.
@MattHancock & every #GE2019 candidate should be able to make their case without fear of abuse or physical intimidation. It takes courage, as exemplified here, to stand for public office. We should encourage all who do. pic.twitter.com/VQB1NHoAIq@BorisJohnson @JamesCleverly
— Mark Fox (@MarkFoxNews) December 2, 2019
Mr Hancock later wrote on Twitter: "It's so sad. It was only about a dozen Labour hardliners - the rest of the room was shocked and disgusted. We must root out this evil."
Thanks Stephen. It’s so sad. It was only about a dozen Labour hardliners - the rest of the room was shocked and disgusted. We must root out this evil.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 2, 2019
He later said: "We’ve got to call out antisemitism no matter what the abuse we get from a minority. Otherwise we know where it leads."
