Keir Starmer’s wife felt 'sick’ after seeing protesters outside family home

Youth Demand laid children's shoes outside the Starmer family home during a pro-Palestine protest. Credit: PA

Sir Keir Starmer's wife felt "sick" when she arrived at her family home to a pro-Palestine demonstration and three people carrying a banner that read 'Starmer stop the killing', a court heard.

Rows of children's shoes were laid at the front of the Starmer family home on April 9, it is alleged.

Victoria Starmer drove away in her car when she realised “people who were not agreeing with my husband” had gathered outside.

Leonorah Ward, 21, of Leeds, Zosia Lewis, 23, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Daniel Formentin, 24, of Leeds, were each found guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on public order offenses.

Left to right: Youth Demand protesters Leonorah Ward, Daniel Formentin and Zosia Lewis outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court Credit: PA

Each of them had initially been charged with public order offences under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and with breaching court bail.

Activists from the group Youth Demand hung a banner outside the London house that read: “Starmer stop the killing”, surrounded by red hand prints.

Giving evidence at the trial in person, Starmer's wife said: “I felt a bit sick, to be perfectly honest.

“I felt apprehensive and uncomfortable.”

Children's shoes were left at the door of the Starmer family home. Credit: PA

She had just returned from a shopping trip with her son when they spotted the protesters, the court heard.

She drove around the corner before contacting Starmer's office because she “didn’t want to stop and be obvious”, she told the court.

Section 42 powers cover the harassment of a person at their home address if an officer suspects it is causing alarm or distress to the occupant.

Youth Demand previously spray painted Labour HQ. Credit: PA

Youth Demand describes itself as a “new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide”.

Children’s shoes have been used at a number of pro-Palestine demonstrations to signify the children killed in Gaza.

The same group sprayed Labour HQ with red paint, and later claimed that 11 people had been arrested in relation to that incident.

The three deny the charges, and the trial continues.

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