A controversial Labour Party member was ejected from a Better Together event in Dundee after launching a verbal attack on former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Mike Barile, who was barred from teaching after receiving an absolute discharge from a court for assaulting two pupils, shouted “rubbish” and “you’re an absolute disgrace” at Mr Brown and Better Together leader Alistair Darling during an event at Dundee’s Marryat Hall on Wednesday.
He was removed from the room by the Fife MP’s secret service protection and members of Better Together.
One young mum said Mr Barile, a board member of Dundee United supporters’ group Arab Trust, upset her baby daughter so much she had to be taken away from the chaotic scene.
Lynsey McVeigh, 25, said: “I don’t know what he was talking about but she started looking around and I knew Hollie was going to start. She’s only 10 months old.
“I’m just so angry.Everyone is allowed an opinion but don’t take it out on anyone else.”
Lynsey’s mum, Barbara Selden, removed Hollie as the crowd chanted “out, out, out” at Yes badge-wearing Mr Barile.
The 48-year-old added: “I took her away because she really did get a fright. She was crying.”
The dramatic outbreak interrupted an event which had received big billing for being the first time Better Together leader Alistair Darling and Mr Brown have shared a stage since falling out before they were ejected from Downing Street in 2010.
A chasm formed between the former Prime Minister and his Chancellor amid claims the former had tried to sack the latter on several occasions but they now appear to have buried the hatchet.
Mr Barile told The Courier it was the duo’s “sheer hypocrisy” in office which sparked his intervention.
He said: “I don’t think they brought asingle job to Dundee between them when they were in power.Now they are talking about being better together. We have been told to toe the party line on the referendum and that’s it.
“It’s dreadful because I think it’s amarvellous opportunity to deliver a strong Labour government in Scotland that can change the lives of ordinary people and they are missing out on that.”
When asked if he thought his actions were appropriate, Mr Barile said: “How else can I do it?It’s so frustrating being a Labour Party member.
“The last time Brown was there I made a point of writing a letter to The Courier decrying the fact there was no opportunity for questions.
“I received an invitation and registered. The guy let me into the hall despite the fact I had my Yes badge.”
During his speech, Mr Brown told the 250-strong invited audience that while the SNP “dine out” on ideas of equality, they have “no plans to raise funds that would come from a fairer taxation system”.
“When you look at the Scottish National Party policies, inequality and poverty will survive until doomsday if Alex Salmond is all that confronts it,” he added.
SNP Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie called on Mr Brown and Mr Darling to “come clean and admit there is no guarantee of further job creating powers in the event of a No vote”.
The party’s Treasury spokesman said: “Following Alistair Darling’s complete failure to outline any further powers that would come to Scotland in the event of a No vote, people are waking up to the fact that the only thing guaranteed by a No vote would be more Westminster austerity.”