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David Cameron heckled by NHS protester as he visits Olympic park | David Cameron heckled by NHS protester as he visits Olympic park |
(2 months later) | |
It was supposed to be a celebration of Olympic volunteers, so perhaps David Cameron should not have been surprised when someone volunteered their angry assessment of his government. | It was supposed to be a celebration of Olympic volunteers, so perhaps David Cameron should not have been surprised when someone volunteered their angry assessment of his government. |
During a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park on Friday the prime minister was ambushed by a heckler who forced him to defend his policies towards the National Health Service. | During a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park on Friday the prime minister was ambushed by a heckler who forced him to defend his policies towards the National Health Service. |
Cameron was surrounded by an excited crowd of people who helped at London 2012 when Hilary Kerr appeared at his elbow and began taking him to task. | Cameron was surrounded by an excited crowd of people who helped at London 2012 when Hilary Kerr appeared at his elbow and began taking him to task. |
"Mr Cameron, why did you say the NHS would be safe in your hands? You're privatising it," she shouted. | "Mr Cameron, why did you say the NHS would be safe in your hands? You're privatising it," she shouted. |
Flanked by London's mayor, Boris Johnson, and Lord Coe, the prime minister stood his ground, insisting: "Well, it is safe. We are saving the NHS. We're putting more money into it." | Flanked by London's mayor, Boris Johnson, and Lord Coe, the prime minister stood his ground, insisting: "Well, it is safe. We are saving the NHS. We're putting more money into it." |
But his response failed to mollify Kerr, who shouted back: "Why do you lie to the British people?" | But his response failed to mollify Kerr, who shouted back: "Why do you lie to the British people?" |
Viewing on mobile? Click here to watch video | Viewing on mobile? Click here to watch video |
As the crowd around Cameron looked on, a lone voice shouted a comment in support of him, saying: "We're with you!" | As the crowd around Cameron looked on, a lone voice shouted a comment in support of him, saying: "We're with you!" |
Grateful for the support, the prime minister said: "Thank you very much. It's not about politics today. It's about the Olympics. It's about volunteering." | Grateful for the support, the prime minister said: "Thank you very much. It's not about politics today. It's about the Olympics. It's about volunteering." |
The angry exchange was not the first time Cameron or a senior member of his cabinet has been heckled when trying to bask in the successful glow of last summer's sporting spectacle. | The angry exchange was not the first time Cameron or a senior member of his cabinet has been heckled when trying to bask in the successful glow of last summer's sporting spectacle. |
Last year, Cameron was heckled as he visited an Olympic volunteer centre before the Games by a man shouting: "Shame on you. You're crippling the poor and the young … you're killing the crippled." The man, who was not a volunteer, was subsequently ejected from the venue. | Last year, Cameron was heckled as he visited an Olympic volunteer centre before the Games by a man shouting: "Shame on you. You're crippling the poor and the young … you're killing the crippled." The man, who was not a volunteer, was subsequently ejected from the venue. |
George Osborne, the chancellor, was also memorably booed by the Olympic stadium crowd as he prepared to present medals for Paralympic 400 metre athletes. | George Osborne, the chancellor, was also memorably booed by the Olympic stadium crowd as he prepared to present medals for Paralympic 400 metre athletes. |
Cameron was revisiting the site of last year's Games on Friday to see how preparations were progressing ahead of the park's reopening. | Cameron was revisiting the site of last year's Games on Friday to see how preparations were progressing ahead of the park's reopening. |
He greeted London 2012 volunteers at the event organised by independent charity Join In in a bid to encourage more people to get into sport and volunteering. | He greeted London 2012 volunteers at the event organised by independent charity Join In in a bid to encourage more people to get into sport and volunteering. |
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