Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
James Holt

Labour leader Keir Starmer rescued by police after he was ambushed by mob of protesters carrying a 'noose'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was bundled into a car by police after a mob shouting “traitor” ambushed him near the Houses of Parliament on Monday evening.

Sir Keir was leaving Westminster with Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy when he was surrounded by protestors, some of which were protesting about Covid restrictions, shouting abuse.

There were clashes with police after Sir Keir was escorted into a police car on the Victoria Embankment shortly after 5pm.

READ MORE Angela Rayner labels new Number 10 appointment a 'farce' as she hits out at Boris Johnson

Officers stepped in to protect the Opposition leader on Monday as the group followed him from outside Scotland Yard.

The Mirror reported that protestors had a noose and were shouting false claims about the Labour leader failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was head of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Footage posted to social media showed Piers Corbyn, the Covid-19 conspiracy theorist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, addressing the crowd before the incident and later leading chants of “resist, defy, do not comply”.

Video showed Sir Keir, surrounded by police, being followed down the street while being targeted with shouts of “why aren’t you opposing?” and “traitor”.

“Why did you go after Julian Assange, why did you go after journalists?” one man shouted.

It was understood Sir Keir was not harmed during the incident.

Protesters were seen displaying signs opposing mandatory vaccination and the use of restrictions to prevent Covid-19 deaths.

The Met Police said a man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of assault after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: "Shortly after 5.10pm on Monday, 7 February, a man who had been surrounded by a group of protesters near to New Scotland Yard, was taken away from the scene by a police car.

"A man and a woman were arrested at the scene for assault of an emergency worker after a traffic cone was thrown at a police officer.

"They have been taken into custody."

Sign up to the MEN email newsletters to get the latest on sport, news, what's on and more by following this link

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.