Brown faces protesters

7:30am Monday 11th June 2007

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Protesters called for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq yesterday as Chancellor Gordon Brown arrived in Oxford to talk to young Labour Party members.

Mr Brown, who will take over as Prime Minister when Tony Blair stands down later this month, was in the city to take part in a hustings for candidates standing for the deputy leadership.

Up to 50 protesters made their voices heard as Mr Brown arrived at the Museum of Modern Art in Pembroke Street.

They shouted "troops out now" in a peaceful protest as Mr Brown was driven to the museum shortly before noon.

Among the protesters was Oxford East Green Party candidate Peter Tatchell, who said: "Gordon Brown is a continuation of Tony Blair. He is backing every Blairite blunder, from the war in Iraq to ID cards, Trident missiles and expanding nuclear power.

"We are protesting here to urge Gordon Brown to change direction from the failed Blairite policies of the past."