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British Politicians Take Election Fight to Streets
The British general election campaign turned ugly today, with Prime Minister Tony Blair berated and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott embroiled in a scuffle in which he hit a demonstrator.
Mr Prescott was seen in television pictures lashing out at a protester and punching him in the face after an egg was thrown at him.
The incident, a publicity blow for Labour ahead of the June 7 vote, will embarrass Mr Blair, for whom law and order is an important issue.
It was a day when hecklers came to the fore, with one berating Mr Blair and taking the spotlight away from the launch of the ruling Labour Party's election manifesto, which promised a 10 year reform program.
In Rhyl, Mr Prescott was trapped against a narrow wall by angry countryside and fuel protesters before party supporters freed him.
Police said a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and was being questioned.
Brendan Murphy, Conservative candidate for the Vale of Clwyd, which includes the town of Rhyl, called on Mr Prescott to resign.
"What sort of role model is he for young people," he said.
"Throwing eggs is almost a time honoured tradition in this country.
"It might hurt and sting your face a bit but it doesn't harm you.
"If politicians can't put up with things like that they shouldn't be in the job."
Mr Prescott described the incident as a "melee" in a brief statement to reporters, adding, "I clearly defended myself."
Earlier, while arriving at a hospital in Birmingham in central England, Mr Blair was confronted by a woman whose partner has a form of lymphatic cancer.
In the glare of the media spotlight and to the obvious embarrassment of Labour officials, she loudly berated him over the state of health facilities.
As he tried to reply by pointing to increased investment, she snapped back: "All you do is walk around and make yourself known, but you don't actually do anything to help anyone."
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