Keir Starmer's election manifesto launch in Manchester dramatically halted by protester

Sophie Halle-Richards
·2-min read
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Keir Starmer's General Election manifesto launch was dramatically halted by a climate protester as the Labour leader spoke in Manchester today (June 13).

Starmer had just begun his speech at NOMA when a woman in the audience began heckling him before being swiftly escorted out by security.

Holding up a banner that read “Youth deserve better,” she shouted: “My generation is being let down by the Labour Party and this manifesto.

READ MORE: Manchester Piccadilly station evacuated with crowds outside - because of some pastries

“You say that you’re offering change but it’s the same old Tory policies. We need better. The climate can’t wait. We need a green new deal now.”

Sir Keir, who is no stranger to being interrupted by protesters, quickly hit back that Labour “gave up on being a party of protest” after Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

“We gave up on being a party of protest five years ago, we want to be a party in power,” he said to loud applause and cheers from the audience as the demonstrator was bundled out by a security guard.

Sir Keir added: “That’s not in the script, but that is part of the change.”

During the unveiling of his party’s offer to voters, Sir Keir also said he had dragged Labour away from the “dead end of gesture politics” and it was now “time to change Britain”.

The manifesto did not contain any surprise announcements beyond what Sir Keir had already set out.

Referencing an absence of a “rabbit out of the hat”, he said in his speech: “If you want politics as pantomime, I hear Clacton is nice this time of year.”

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer -Credit:PA
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer -Credit:PA

The Essex seat is where newly installed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is campaigning to become an MP.

Last October, the Labour leader was confronted by a glitter-throwing protester before he could deliver his keynote speech to the party’s conference.

He pushed the activist away from the microphone before security arrived and was then forced to take off his glitter-covered suit jacket.

Sir Keir’s handling of the stage invasion earned praise from his shadow cabinet, with one frontbencher musing that he would give Britain its “sparkle” back.

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