Protesters disrupt David Lammy’s speech
A group of pro-climate and pro-Gaza protesters disrupted Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s keynote speech on tackling kleptocracy in the UK. Lammy was speaking at a conference hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) about combating transnational kleptocracy and dirty money.
Protest and Response
Around half a dozen protesters stood up in the audience to protest against Lammy, accusing him of taking money from the pro-Israel lobby and companies harming the climate. Lammy responded by emphasizing the need for a ceasefire and meeting climate commitments under a Labour government.
Protesters from groups like Climate Resistance and Youth Demand expressed concerns over politicians’ ties to the fossil fuel industry and Israel lobbyists, calling for an arms embargo on Israel and no new oil and gas licenses.
Lammy’s Plans
After the protesters were removed, Lammy outlined Labour’s plans to combat financial crime, including hosting a UK summit to address the issue and establishing an international anti-corruption court. He described London as a “hotbed of kleptocracy” and proposed measures to tighten regulation and encourage whistleblowers to expose financial crimes.
Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge also highlighted the importance of addressing dirty money flow through UK territories and crown dependencies, praising Lammy’s commitment to ethical practices.
