Keir Starmer met with boos and jeers as Nigel Farage tells crowds the PM has been ‘weak’ on pro-Palestinian marches
B
y mid-morning on Thursday, word had spread on WhatsApp groups and social media accounts that Keir Starmer would be visiting the headquarters of the Jewish-led Hatzola ambulance service in Golders Green, north London. The organisation’s members had only been informed that a senior cabinet minister was on their way after the stabbings of two Jewish men in the area on Wednesday, so the gathering crowd was a puzzle to those inside. “I didn’t even tell my children,” said one.
The protesters knew. By the time the prime minister arrived at midday there were about 200 people gathered to make their feelings heard, many holding up freshly printed posters bearing the words: “Keir Starmer Jew harmer”. They had been distributed by a direct action group opposed to the continuation of the pro-Palestinian marches, called Stop the Hate.
The prime ministerial convoy was greeted by a cascade of boos, jeers and chants as it swept past the security gates at the front of the building. “Keir Starmer is a joker,” screamed some. “Starmer, Jew harmer,” bellowed a man with a loud hailer. “You are a disgrace,” screeched a woman as the prime minister stepped out of his car to meet his hosts. “I feel betrayed by Starmer,” said Moshe, 20, a shop worker, of his motivation for being among the protesters.
