Blair sparks heckling and walkout at union conference

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair sparked boos, heckling and a walkout as he faced a further challenge to his authority in a speech to Britain’s unions.

As Mr Blair got to his feet at the Brighton Conference Centre to address 700 delegates, a group of activists left the hall, including Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union.

Some of the delegates who remained in the hall shouted and heckled when Mr Blair mentioned Iraq, Afghanistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.