SHADOW health secretary Wes Streeting was heckled by pro-Palestine protesters during a speech at a conference on Saturday.
Footage shared on social media shows protesters standing on a table and heckling the senior Labour figure at the Progressive Britain event.
However, the crowd then begins clapping them down before the person in the video is escorted away by security.
Protesters keep standing up to heckle Wes Streeting at the Progressive Britain conference over Gaza.
— Tom Belger (@tom_belger) May 11, 2024
Crowd clapping them down, then a chant of ‘Wes’.
Streeting says it’s like being back at NUS conference, it’s a democratic country and the Green party’s available. pic.twitter.com/MNI8j7tttR
According to LabourList editor Tom Belger, there were at least five people protesting.
He said: “Protesters keep standing up to heckle Wes Streeting at the Progressive Britain conference over Gaza.
“Crowd clapping them down, then a chant of ‘Wes’. Streeting says it’s like being back at NUS (National Union of Students) conference, it’s a democratic country and the Green Party’s available.”
READ MORE: Secret Union polling campaign over as MP slams UK Government
Belger added that “at least five” people stood up to heckle Streeting before he carried on a speech about “Labour having changed, as it cares about public finances, crime and defence, not just to win”.
Streeting briefly addressed the protesters in a post on his own social media account late on Saturday evening.
He said: “I’m so proud of the @progbrit team for a fantastic event attended by hundreds of people who are part of @Keir_Starmer’s @UKLabour team – winning the battle of ideas and organisation.
“Thanks, too, to the protesters who offered another proof point that Labour is serious again.”
It was reported by The Guardian last week that Labour are working hard to gain support back after losing votes over their stance on Gaza.
Labour’s leader Starmer has called for a “ceasefire that lasts” although previously came in for criticism for refusing to call for one.
Asked if Labour regretted their earlier stance on the conflict, Streeting previously said: “Keir Starmer has always been clear that our position would always respond to what is happening there.”
He later added: “I don’t deny that there are people out there who are feeling let down and I want them to know that we’ve heard.
“We will take that on the chin, and we’ll work hard to win people’s trust back at future elections.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel