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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tory press officer confronted while observing Jeremy Corbyn rally | |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Conservative press officer has been confronted after being found observing a rally for the Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn. | A Conservative press officer has been confronted after being found observing a rally for the Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Mike Watkinson was spotted by Channel 4 News journalist Michael Crick quietly sitting in the crowd at a meeting in Nuneaton. | Mike Watkinson was spotted by Channel 4 News journalist Michael Crick quietly sitting in the crowd at a meeting in Nuneaton. |
| The journalist confronted Mr Watkinson, who was patiently reading the Daily Mail newspaper while he waited for the rally to start. | |
| The press officer responded to his name and muttered "I don't know what you're talking about." | The press officer responded to his name and muttered "I don't know what you're talking about." |
| Upon seeing the journalist and camera crew Mr Watkinson rose to his feet and silently walked out of the room towards his car | Upon seeing the journalist and camera crew Mr Watkinson rose to his feet and silently walked out of the room towards his car |
| In a painfully awkward video of the incident the journalist asks the Tory official who has sent him to the event, but receives no response. | In a painfully awkward video of the incident the journalist asks the Tory official who has sent him to the event, but receives no response. |
| Channel 4 News reported that Jeremy Corbyn said of the Tory official: "He was welcome to stay. We wouldn't have thrown him out." | Channel 4 News reported that Jeremy Corbyn said of the Tory official: "He was welcome to stay. We wouldn't have thrown him out." |
| It is fairly common practice for parties to send press officers to opponents' events and conferences to try and glean information that could be used against them. | It is fairly common practice for parties to send press officers to opponents' events and conferences to try and glean information that could be used against them. |
| A Conservative spokesperson said it was aware the staff member had attended the rally. | A Conservative spokesperson said it was aware the staff member had attended the rally. |