Handcuffed protesters ejected from Labour Conference after Rachel Reeves heckle
Two climate protesters were bundled out of Labour Conference in handcuffs after interrupting Rachel Reeves ‘ keynote speech.
The two men, reportedly from the campaign group Climate Action, were led from the conference secure zone in handcuffs and bundled into a police van.
The Mirror found the protesters as they were being escorted out of the site by police, but the men remained silent as they were led away.
Police declined to say on what grounds they were being held.
The Climate Resistance group claimed responsibility for the disruption to the Chancellor’s speech – in protest at arms sales to israel and polluting industries. The group said a banner was unfurled reading: “Still backing polluters, still arming Israel – we voted for change”.
“We are still selling arms to Israel! I thought we voted for change, Rachel!” the protestor shouted.
Sam Simons – a spokesman for the group – said: “Labour promised us change – instead we’re getting more of the same. The same pandering to the fossil fuel industry; the same arms licences that are fuelling a genocide in Gaza, and the same austerity that sees the poorest hit hardest.”
Just minutes into her keynote address, protestors could be heard shouting over her speech – before being hauled out of the conference arena by security guards.
Keeping her composure, Ms Reeves replied that the Labour Party is “not a party of protest”. She added: “This is a changed Labour Party, a Labour Party that represents working people, not a party of protest”
Last year, Keir Starmer’s keynote was disrupted by a protester, claiming to represent the group People Demand Democracy, who poured glitter over him during his speech.
