Gaza protesters arrested at Keir Starmer Labour gala in Glasgow

Two people were arrested as Sir Keir attended a fundraising dinner in Glasgow

A man and a woman have been arrested and charged after a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Labour dinner in Glasgow with Sir Keir Starmer.

Campaigners criticised the Labour Party leader, who was attending the gala fundraiser, for refusing to back a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

Police said the man, 33, and woman, 26, were charged with "disorder offences".

Protesters earlier gathered at Glasgow Central Station on Gordon Street where Sir Keir was arriving by train.

A video posted on social media showed Sir Keir being confronted by a train passenger, who asked him: "Keir, how many more children in Palestine have to die before you call for a ceasefire?"

Footage also showed the Labour Party leader arriving at the station, where a group of activists were waiting with Palestinian flags.

As Sir Keir arrived, one protester shouted: "Keir Starmer you are facilitating Israel's genocide in Gaza. Stop the massacre of over 7,000 babies."

Police officers were posted outside the hotel from Thursday afternoon

Others shouted "war criminal" and "you should be in prison".

After Sir Keir got into a Range Rover it was surrounded by activists.

The protest continued outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Congress Road, where officers had been posted since Thursday afternoon.

Last month 10 Labour frontbenchers quit to vote for an SNP motion in the Commons backing a ceasefire, in defiance of Sir Keir's instructions.

He said he was focused on "alleviating the situation on the ground" in Gaza, not "party management", but called for Labour unity.

The Labour leader has instead backed pauses in the conflict to deliver aid.

UK Parliament

Sir Keir Starmer suffered a major rebellion over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war

Police Scotland said there were no injuries reported at the protest.

A force spokesperson added: "A 33-year-old man and 26-year-old woman have been arrested and charged in connection with disorder offences.

"A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal".

Earlier on Thursday campaigners staged a blockade at the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow in opposition to its ties to Israel.

The demonstration was organised by a local group alongside Workers for a Free Palestine.

Defence factories in Dorset, Brighton and Lancashire were also blockaded by the campaign group, which is urging BAE Systems to end ties with Israel and cease all weapons, defence and supplies trading.

BAE said it complied with applicable defence export controls and was "horrified" by the situation in Israel and Gaza.

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