Sir Keir Starmer has been slammed for "cutting in front of a three-hour queue" during his Madeira holiday for a popular toboggan ride.
The incident occurred when the 62-year-old PM's limousine was escorted to the front of a lengthy queue, where his children - aged 16 and 13 - were immediately given seats on the traditional basket-style ride.
British tourists, many of whom had been waiting since morning, expressed their displeasure with boos, calling for him to "get to the back of the queue".
The incident took place at a popular tourist attraction near the island's busy cruise ship dock, where hundreds of holidaymakers had gathered for the steep street toboggan experience.
Starmer has been slammed for "cutting in front of a three-hour queue" during his Madeira holiday for a popular toboggan ride
TikTok
Russell Schacter, 64, from Ilford in East London, witnessed the incident while waiting in the queue from 10am, despite having pre-booked tickets.
"Everyone was typically patient and well mannered until we had finally got right to the front when the queue was halted," he told The Sun.
He captured the moment on video around 1pm when Starmer arrived in a car, accompanied by a security team in another vehicle.
"He stood there smiling as his two kids were taken straight to the front of the queue and were put straight on the ride," Schacter recalled.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
According to Schacter, the situation became more disruptive when Starmer's children completed their ride, explaining: "Once his kids went off, he was then driven straight to the bottom of the toboggan run to meet them."
"We went behind them and were held up again as his kids were collected and driven away.
"He's obviously in a privileged position and has security issues but it was still a difficult pill to swallow to see him pushing to the front after we queued for three hours.
"Brits are famous for being good at queuing and it was a difficult pill to swallow."
Several users pointed out it would be unrealistic and unsafe for the leader of the UK to stand in a busy queue for hours (Stock)
GETTY
However, GB News understands that the decision was taken by the Madeiran police.
Social media reaction to the incident has been mixed, with some users defending the security necessities of Starmer's position.
Several users pointed out it would be unrealistic and unsafe for the leader of the UK to stand in a busy queue for hours.
Meanwhile, one user online made light of the situation, joking: "That sled's going down faster than Keir's approval rating."
After postponing his first holiday as PM after his brother's death on Boxing Day, the Labour leader was able to get away with his family to the Portuguese island at the end of December.
