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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think bodyguards were slow to protect Kier Starmer just now?!!

64 replies

starmerllama · 10/10/2023 14:30

I'm a bit of a politics nerd and watching Kier Starmer's conference speech today.

Just after he walked on stage a protester ran over and threw glitter all over him. It was very sudden but seemed to take ages for anyone to remove the protester and he was standing right next to Starmer shouting for what felt like ages before anyone came on stage - he looked unhinged.

Regardless of your politics AIBU to think it's terrible that Starmer didn't have better security and bodyguards? The guy could have been armed or attacked him.

Afterwards they eventually dragged the man away but no-one seemed to help Kier Starmer who stood looking bewildered. He seems pretty shaken but good for him he carried on. It must have been quite scary though for such a big moment.

He's now coated in glitter and not one of his team came out with a towel or even tried to help him brush it off! I thought it would have been fine for them to check he was ok, give him a glass of water etc, the poor bloke!

OP posts:
IfYouDontAsk · 10/10/2023 15:55

Terrible! Poor Keir, the reaction felt SO slow. Only good thing is that they’ll tighten security way up now and he’ll hopefully be better protected.

ScribblingPixie · 10/10/2023 15:57

Dreadful security. I think I'd have reacted quicker myself if I was stood at the side of the stage. Starmer looked frightened too.

bombastix · 10/10/2023 15:59

Bloody awful.

He handled it well but he should not have had to.

Abhannmor · 10/10/2023 16:02

Has security been outsourced like everything else? I used to work for a very large security company. Not fit to mind mice at a crossroads.

Twazique · 10/10/2023 16:07

I liked that he just rolled up his sleeves and got on with the job.

oohsharon · 10/10/2023 16:12

Pathetic state of affairs. Absolutely pathetic.

Gnomegnomegnome · 10/10/2023 16:12

I noticed that it was the two female guards that appeared to more in control (although still slow to react) and drag him off. The blokes didn’t do much at all.

I don’t like him much but he did handle it well.

Myrkwood · 10/10/2023 16:14

After watching this any group with nefarious motives would believe it incredibly easy to access the opposition leader during a live broadcast…

It made me feel ill. Not a Labour supporter but that could have been so much worse, the poor bloke must have been terrified!

I hope he gets some much better security soon.

Twazique · 10/10/2023 16:20

Prescott would have punched him.

WitcheryDivine · 10/10/2023 16:26

It was horrendous to watch, I was dreading the guy pulling out a knife and just going for it - he definitely would have had time.

I'm pretty sure the leader of the opposition has 24 hour police protection, I wonder if they saw him up onto the stage and thought oh good, we've got 45 minutes to have a coffee. If so I hope they get disciplined, presumably those guys are from the same notorious "diplomatic protection" squad as all these coppers who keep being caught for rape, murder and sharing awful messages.

I thought he handled it BRILLIANTLY considering how shaken he must have been, and I'm in no way his number 1 fan.

Original poster
starmerllama · 10/10/2023 19:30

Yes I agree @WitcheryDivine with everything you said. It's actually incredibly scary how much time the guy had and Starmer was just powerless really.

OP posts:
BookwormDadUK · 10/10/2023 19:41

Politics nerd here too 🤓 Definitely far too slow, especially after recent tragedies on both sides of the House.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/10/2023 19:45

Absolutely terrible

I want him (and Sunak) defended to the Nth degree

Even though I fantasise about taking a hammer to Sunaks tiny little ankles a La Kathy Bates

ssd · 10/10/2023 19:47

Dh said the exact same thing op

itwasdifferentinthe90s · 10/10/2023 19:54

@ssd

Well if your husband said so

FOJN · 10/10/2023 20:00

The security were very slow to react, it's not as if it was a tiny stage and glitter arsehole materialised out of thin air, why did no one spot him approaching?

I'm sure Starmer was shaken, with good reason, but he did well to carry on.

I'm not a fan but there should be zero tolerance for violence against politicians no matter what we think of their politics.

WitcheryDivine · 10/10/2023 20:38

Enjoying the phrase “glitter arsehole”. Sounds uncomfy.

the80sweregreat · 10/10/2023 20:46

The conservatives have better security i suppose, although Theresa May had that man try and give her a P45 that time, so these people find a way in. It is awful and I'm pleased it wasn't acid or a knife pulled on him.
I think he handled it well, but all politicians are targets and clearly security was very lax on this occasion.

the80sweregreat · 10/10/2023 20:53

I agree that John Prescott would have punched him though.

MiniGinny · 10/10/2023 21:09

user1497207191 · 10/10/2023 14:57

Sadly, par for the course with the "rent a mob" security staff used at these big venues and like at football matches etc. They're basically one step up from pub bouncers and havn't a clue what to do when something actually happens that needs their action. The reality is that they're just there in numbers to give the illusion of strict security. Very strange that Starmer didn't have his own personal security guard close at hand to protect him.

Yes there was a piece on the radio just the other day about the seemingly inadequate security training courses that people can do.
The main criticism was just that - security staff might be okay with the basics but are not sufficiently equipped to handle incidents or emergencies.

Moonbowlspoon · 10/10/2023 21:19

I thought he handled it really well, and agree that security seemed to react very slowly.

On what planet does someone think it’s ok to manhandle someone like that? Heckling is one thing, assaulting someone is another. Awful.

MrsDeaconClaybourne · 10/10/2023 21:19

I heard about it on the radio first and assumed it was over really quickly. When I watched it on the news I was genuinely shocked by how long the man had his hands on KS. I know it's unlikely that anyone would be able to get an actual weapon in there but if he's improvised something or even just hit him there could have been quite a different outcome.

Westfacing · 10/10/2023 21:26

I assumed the Leader of the Opposition would have Met Police protection?

Camdenish · 10/10/2023 21:27

I’m be not seen the news today but I’ll go and look now.

I am very surprised at this. KS has security to walk around his local area. I’ve only seen him out and about further afield lately in a car, again with security. Where were these people?

Whatever you think of his politics he’s a man doing a job with a wife and family and home. He needs to be kept safe.

mum2jakie · 10/10/2023 21:32

He needs Liam Leeson as he was playing Hollie Valence's security in Taken!!