During the Labour Party’s conference, a man was arrested for showering Sir Keir Starmer with glitter as he prepared to give his speech. The protest was orchestrated by People Demand Democracy, a campaign group advocating for electoral reform and using disruptive tactics to push their message across. The protester, wearing a T-shirt with the campaign’s logo, said “politics needs an update” before being dragged off stage.
Despite the chaotic start to the speech, Sir Keir was unfazed and brushed off the incident, stating “protest or power, that’s why we’ve changed” before unveiling his vision of a country governed by a Labour government. Nevertheless, the protest does raise questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements in place for the leader of the opposition, who has close protection.
The campaign behind the protest, which is linked to Just Stop Oil, is well known for its disruptive demonstrations, such as spraying buildings with orange paint and sprinkling glitter at sporting events. People Demand Democracy say they are a new group calling for “an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience to get their message across” and for “a fair, proportional voting system for Westminster elections and a permanent, legally-binding national House of Citizens, selected by democratic lottery”.
In response to the protest, Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said that Sir Keir couldn’t be bothered by such an incident and emphasized that it’s about power, not protest. Sir Keir received multiple standing ovations during his speech, where he promised a “decade of national renewal” under a Labour government, including a plan for 1.5 million new homes. The incident calls to mind other protests during party conferences, such as when Greenpeace campaigners heckled Liz Truss during her speech last year
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