Sir Keir Starmer targeted by eco-protesters as Labour leader's plan backfires

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer holding an 'In Conversation' event in Glasgow to discuss what a Labour government would mean for the people of Scotland

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer holding an 'In Conversation' event in Glasgow to discuss what a Labour government would mean for the people of Scotland

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Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 18/08/2023

- 16:05

The Leader of the Opposition’s education reform speech was interrupted by activists from Green New Deal Rising earlier this summer

Sir Keir Starmer has been targeted by eco-protesters as the Labour leader’s plan to engage with the activists now appears to have backfired.

Activists from Green New Deal Rising will push ahead with plans to protest outside Labour MPs’ offices.


The group previously hijacked Starmer’s speech on education reform in July.

The Leader of the Opposition recently denied any links with other eco-activist groups such as Just Stop Oil.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters who have blocked access to the Titan Truck Park in Grays, Essex

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters who have blocked access to the Titan Truck Park in Grays, Essex

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However, a senior figure from Green New Deal Rising this week boasted about securing meetings with top Labour officials.

Fatima Ibrahim explained how a meeting held with Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting proved the group’s disruptive protest strategy had worked.

Green New Deal Rising plans to hold multiple disruptive protests outside Labour MPs’ offices, including Starmer’s in St Pancras.

Activists are encouraged to wear “something red” due to the dress code of it “getting hot in here”, the Daily Express said.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry delivers her speech during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry delivers her speech during the Labour Party Conference at the Brighton Centre

PA

Messages seen by the tabloid indicate a press presence is expected for the protest outside Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry’s office.

Protesters will descend on the pub after holding rallies outside Starmer and Thornberry’s North London offices.

The Labour leader rejected suggestions that one of his senior aides had approached Just Stop Oil for a meeting as “nonsense”.

Starmer said in July: “There haven’t been meetings and engagement, there was some nonsense story in The Mail today.

"I’ve not met them, my team aren’t meeting them, it’s a complete distraction.”

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince arrives for the Sky Bet League Two match

Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince arrives for the Sky Bet League Two match

PA

However, Conservative Ministers have continued to heap pressure on Labour.

Net Zero Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Labour is dancing to the tune of eco zealots who want us to be dependent on evil dictators like Putin.”

He added: “First, Labour let Just Stop Oil write their energy surrender plan, now they’re holding meetings with yet another group of radical environmentalists.”

Tory Party chairman Greg Hands also called on Starmer to return £1.4million worth of donations from eco-businessman Dale Vince.

Vince, who is chairman of vegan football club Forest Green Rovers, bankrolls Just Stop Oil’s campaign.

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