Keir Starmer speech disrupted as protester glitter-bombs Labour leader

A man has been arrested after a protester gatecrashed Sir Keir Starmer's speech and showered the Labour leader with glitter at the party's conference.

The speech was delayed as the protester was dragged off stage by security and the man was put in a police van.

The protest was claimed by People Demand Democracy, which uses disruptive tactics to push for electoral reform.

Sir Keir dusted off the glitter and said the protest did not bother him.

"Protest or power, that's why we've changed," Sir Keir said, before setting out his vision of a country governed by a Labour government.

It was a chaotic start to his conference speech, potentially his last before the next general election.

But a spokesman later said the Labour leader was "fine" and "completely unfazed by what happened".

"It shows his strength of character that he got on and delivered the speech of his life," the spokesman added.

Nevertheless, the protest raises questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements for Sir Keir, who has close protection as leader of the opposition.

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Wearing a T-shirt with People Demand Democracy emblazoned on the front, the protester said "politics needs an update" in front of a stunned audience in Liverpool.

Minutes later, a man was filmed being escorted from the conference centre and put into a police van outside.

Merseyside Police said a 28-year-old man from Surrey had been arrested on suspicion of assault, breach of the peace and causing public nuisance following an incident at Labour's conference.

"He has been taken to a police station where he will be questioned by police," a spokesperson said.

The campaign behind the protest is linked to Just Stop Oil, which is well known for its disruptive demonstrations, such as spraying buildings with orange paint and sprinkling glitter at sporting events.

People Demand Democracy says it is a new group calling for "an upgrade to the UK political system using civil disobedience to get their message across".

The campaign is calling for "a fair, proportional voting system for Westminster elections and a permanent, legally-binding national House of Citizens, selected by democratic lottery".

In a statement prepared before Sir Keir's speech, the protester backed the campaign's calls for democratic reform and said Labour had been "captured" by donors and lobbyists.

In a letter to Sir Keir on its website, People Demand Democracy urged Labour to "hold new national elections with a proportional voting system and set up a House of Citizens within six months of getting into office".

The campaign warned Sir Keir that if he did not meet their demands, "People Demand Democracy will take proportionate action to get our message across to you and the Labour Party leadership".

When asked how the security breach was allowed to happen, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said "you can't bother Keir Starmer with stuff like that".

She told the BBC "it's about power not protest, that's what Keir Starmer was talking about".

"He kept going and made this amazing speech."

Sir Keir received multiple standing ovations during his speech, as he promised a "decade of national renewal" under a Labour government, including a plan for 1.5 million new homes.

The incident is reminiscent of demonstrations during other speeches by party leaders and prime ministers at previous conferences.

For example last year, Greenpeace campaigners heckled Liz Truss during her conference speech, and in 2017, a comedian was able to walk straight up to the stage and hand Theresa May a mock P45.