Keir Starmer has been confronted by a furious heckler who accused him of pedalling “the same old Tory policies”.
The woman yelled at the Labour leader as he unveiled the party’s election manifesto in Greater Manchester. She told members of the party faithful that young people had been “let down by the Labour Party and this manifesto”. And she went on to tell Mr Starmer: “You say you’re offering change but it’s the same old Tory policies. We need better.”
She was holding a sign that said “Youth deserve better” as she lambasted the PM-in-waiting. He struck back: ‘We gave up on being a party of protest five years ago – we want to be a party of power.’
(
Getty Images)
Mr Starmer was applauded as security led the woman out of the room. He said: “That’s not in the script, but that is part of the change.”
It came as Mr Starmer began outlining his vision for the UK if he wins on July 4. He vowed to “turn the page” on years of Tory chaos. Addressing scepticism he said: “I understand after 14 years, for many people the hope has been beaten out of them.” In a scathing swipe at Rishi Sunak he said: “I’m running as a candidate to run the country, not a candidate to run the circus.”
Opening his speech he said: “Today we can lay a new foundation of stability and on that foundation, we can start to rebuild Britain.
“A Britain renewed by an old argument, that we serve working people as their ambition drives our country forward.” But he conceded that he doesn’t have a “magic wand” – instead saying the manifesto represents a “credible long-term plan”.
After speaking about problems relating to home ownership and tooth decay among children, he said: “These challenges won’t disappear overnight if Labour wins. We don’t have a magic wand.
But what we do have, what this manifesto represents, is a credible long-term plan. A plan built on a stable foundation with clear first steps.”
It isn’t the first time Mr Starmer has been confronted by a protester while he delivers a key speech. Last year he was covered in glitter as he gave the keynote Labour Party Conference speech.
The demonstrator then was a member of protest group People Demand Democracy, which demands reform of the UK’s voting system.