KEIR Starmer is facing a backlash for “ignoring” a young activist calling for action to help the environment.
UK Labour are currently holding a five-day conference, set to end on Wednesday, in Brighton.
As Starmer was walking to an interview, he was asked about his plans by a young Labour Party member.
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A clip of the moment has gone viral online, with Starmer facing criticism for his lack of acknowledgement of the woman walking next to him.
In the video, campaigner Emma de Saram repeatedly says: “Hi Keir, I’m a Labour Party member and I’m also part of Green New deal Rising. Are you going to be committing to the £85bn we need to transition to a green economy?”
Young people were ignored by @Keir_Starmer when we asked him where he stood on the #GreenNewDeal in Brighton today.
— Green New Deal Rising (@GNDRising) September 26, 2021
£85 billion is the minimum we would need to create millions of good green jobs.
But Keir won’t even commit to that? pic.twitter.com/k9UHHQRBqe
After he enters the building he’s walking to, she adds: “We just tried to talk to Keir Starmer about backing the Green New Deal bill and the £75bn we need to transition to a green economy.
“He literally completely ignored me.
“So is this how he treats his Labour members? Is this how he treats young people, future generations, not committing to the Green New Deal? Yeah. Wow.”
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The Labour leader’s supporters have defended his approach, saying he has answered the group before and that he pointed out prior that he was already running late to an interview with Andrew Marr.
However, it was branded by many as emblematic of how Labour treats young members.
Coincidentally, this is also the attitude that Labour have to the people of Scotland. https://t.co/16viGMY2gK
— Ross Colquhoun (@rosscolquhoun) September 27, 2021
This video brilliantly sums up Labour’s current attitude towards young people. pic.twitter.com/dUl4qGhgTS
— Owen Jones 🌹 (@OwenJones84) September 26, 2021
Every time I watch this video I get angrier. @Keir_Starmer you cannot ignore young people and members of the party you are supposed to be leading. We need climate commitments now https://t.co/F7yiiF9Adf
— Jemima 🌱 #FreeNazanin (she/her) (@arantingreader) September 26, 2021
This is a terrible look for the Labour Party when it’s leader is ignoring young people from @GNDRising asking for Starmer to commit to radical climate action.
— Jake Woodier (@JakeWoodier) September 26, 2021
Just a few years back young people flocked to Labour in droves. This will push them away.
pic.twitter.com/t9LJM5rAG0
It really shouldn't be beyond the leader of the opposition to come up with a one sentence response to an entirely reasonable question from a young member of his party.
— Key Link (@KeyLinkChain) September 26, 2021
Every time I watch this video I get angrier. @Keir_Starmer you cannot ignore young people and members of the party you are supposed to be leading. We need climate commitments now https://t.co/F7yiiF9Adf
— Jemima 🌱 #FreeNazanin (she/her) (@arantingreader) September 26, 2021
Meanwhile, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the tax system is "stacked" against high-street firms, with the party setting out plans to shift the burden to online giants like Amazon.
Reeves said she would freeze business rates next year if she was in No 11, while also offering a cut for small firms, paid for by hiking digital taxes.
The move comes as Labour seeks to get its conference in Brighton back on track following internal rows over party rules, criticism of Starmer after he ruled out nationalising energy giants and the fallout from Angela Rayner's attack on the "scum" in Boris Johnson's Cabinet.
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