AN ANARCHIST who was mistakenly invited to an MP's big election launch has been banned from tonight's event.
Ian Bone, former editor of anarchist magazine Class War, accepted his invitation to Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell's election launch which he received in a generic round-robin email.
However, he has since received a letter from Croydon Conservative HQ telling him he is not welcome at Fairfield Halls tonight (Monday) because he caused a disturbance outside a Tory event earlier this year.
Mr Bone, 67, caused a rumpus in March at Selsdon Community Hall when Mayor of London Boris Johnson was the guest of honour – an event Conservative activists had to pay to attend.
Mr Bone said he was amused by the reaction from the Tories but said he "can't be a**ed" to turn up and kick up a fuss at tonight's event, also set to be attended by Mr Johnson.
He added: "I'm too tired. From what I can make out he's trying to get BoJo to dig him out of a hole."
Mr Barwell said he was in full support of Ian Parker, of the Croydon Conservative Federation, who sent the letter. There are expected to be around 300 people at tonight's event.
Mr Bone is to stand at next year's general election in the Lewisham West and Penge constituency for his Class War party, which is also fielding a number of candidates across the country.
At the Selsdon event in March, Mr Bone and friends were peaceful in the respect there was no violence but they did try and relay their messages through a megaphone.
Police guarded the entrance to the hall while Mr Johnson spoke to activists.
Here is the letter Mr Bone received in full:
Dear Ian
Your attendance and actions outside the Selsdon Community Centre earlier this year as overseen by the police and as shown on your blog have been brought to my attention.
Consequently, I have taken the decision to withdraw your tickets allowing your attendance at the launch of Gavin Barwell's campaign with Boris on the 22nd September.
I fully support participation in political events by those of all and no political persuasion but the line has to be drawn at the disruptive approach you adopted at the Selsdon event with Boris. Politicians from all parties wish to appeal to a wide spectrum of voters' political views but sadly this has to be restricted when a tiny minority create at least the potential for disruption for the majority who wish to hear what elected representatives and others have to say.
I regret therefore you will not be allowed into the event on the 22nd September.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Parker
for Croydon Conservative Federation
