A protester has heckled Labour leader Keir Starmer as he unveils Labour’s manifesto for the general election.
The protester held a banner that said “Youth Deserve Better” and shouted at the Labour leader shortly after he took to the stage.
Starmer said: “We gave up being a party of protest five years ago, now we’re a party of power.”
'We gave up being a party of protest five years ago, we want to be a party of power'
Labour leader @Keir_Starmer responds to heckler moments into launch of party's manifesto pic.twitter.com/KNMtqi7YIh
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) June 13, 2024
The climate activist group Green New Deal Rising has claimed responsibility for the disruption. In a post on social media, the group said: “We just disrupted Keir Starmer because his manifesto fails to deliver for our generation. When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, and improving the quality of life for everyone in this country, Labour’s plans don’t touch the sides.”
A video posted by the group shows the protester shouting: “My generation is being let down by the Labour Party and this manifesto – you say that you’re offering change but it’s the same old Tory policies. We need better, the climate can’t wait. We need a Green New Deal now.”
BREAKING: We just disrupted @Keir_Starmer because his manifesto fails to deliver for our generation.
When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, and improving the quality of life for everyone in this country, Labour’s plans don’t touch the sides.#YouthDeserveBetter. pic.twitter.com/zddqRM7Io5
— Green New Deal Rising (@GNDRising) June 13, 2024
The manifesto includes a pledge to give votes for 16-year-olds, but Labour has faced repeated protests including from young people at campaign events over its stance on climate change and on Gaza over the past year.
Find out more through our wider 2024 Labour party manifesto coverage so far:
READ MORE: Labour manifesto launch: Live updates, reaction and analysis
READ MORE: Full manifesto costs breakdown – and how tax and borrowing fund it
READ MORE: Key manifesto themes and headline policies in brief
READ MORE: Labour vows to protect green belt despite housebuilding drive
READ MORE: Watch as Starmer heckled by protestor inside with ‘youth deserve better’ banner
READ MORE: GMB calls manifesto ‘vision of hope’ but Unite says ‘not enough’
READ MORE: Manifesto commits to Brexit and being ‘confident’ outside EU
READ MORE: Labour to legislate on New Deal for Working People within 100 days – key policies breakdown
READ MORE: Labour to give 16-year-olds right to vote
READ MORE: Starmer says ‘manifesto for wealth creation’ will kickstart growth
READ MORE: Dodds: ‘Our manifesto is a fully funded vision, while Tories offer a Christmas tree of gimmicks’
Read more of our 2024 general election coverage here.
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