Sir Keir Starmer denies his team asked to meet with Just Stop Oil

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Laura Kuensberg on her BBC programme. Photo: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Sir Keir Starmer insisted that his team not request a meeting with Just Stop Oil as he called the group 'arrogant'.

Labor leader denied reports that his private secretary in Parliament, Jess Morden, contacted the protest group to “come in and talk.”

The Mail on Sunday reported that activists believe that Ms Morden is “trying to convince us that Labor continues to be guided by «environmental concerns.»

Just Stop Oil picketed Labor headquarters over Sir Keir's decision to backtrack on a pledge to spend £28bn annually on green energy infrastructure.

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In an interview with Laura Kensberg's BBC 1 programme, the Labor leader called the story of Ms Morden's letter «nonsense.»

«There were no meetings or engagements, there was some bullshit in the Mail today,» he said. “I didn’t meet with them, my team doesn’t meet with them, it’s a total distraction.”

This story prompted Sewalla Braverman, Home Secretary, to write to Sir Keir accusing him of a “outstanding act of bad faith” in opposing the group, though reportedly welcomed them in private.

She asked him to order «all officials» in the Labor Party to «stop contact with extremist groups» and dismiss all party officials who expressed sympathy for «Just Stop the Oil» or «Extinction Rebellion».

Sunday sir Keir reiterated his earlier condemnation of the group and called their actions in blocking roads and disrupting sporting events «arrogant.»

«The idea that you can just arrogantly stand in front of an ambulance and stop him from going to the hospital, I think that's wrong,» he said.

Sir Keir has previously been criticized for taking £1.5 million in political donations from Dale Vince, a clean energy entrepreneur who also funds Just Stop Oil. .

Labour has always denied that Mr. Vince or the group has any influence on their policies, although the party supported Just Stop Oil's demand that any new oil and gas licenses be terminated.

«Responsible Economy»

Speaking of the same. program, Sir Keir pledged that Labor would be the party of a «responsible economy» and refused to commit to spending more of existing budgets on public services.

When asked if he was relaxed about being called «Fiscal conservative,» he replied, «I don't mind the label people put on me. I want to make my argument.

“My argument is that what was absolutely clear from last year's mini-budget is that if you lose control of the economy, the workers pay.”

But he left the door open for the Bank of England to change. the main inflation target, which is currently 2 percent.

“I think we should do this closer to the election,” he said. “We probably have two, maybe three financial events before the election. We need to wait until we see what state the economy is in.»

Labour spokesman said: Subversive protest tactics used by Just Stop Oil.»

Sir Keir also said to Laura Kuensberg that he would maintain the Conservative two-child allowance cap, and said he would wait closer to the general election to announce Labor's Approach to Housing Benefit, which was frozen from 2020.

He had previously made it clear that lifting the two-child limit was not party policy, but did not rule out a postponement, adding: «If anything changes, I'll let you know.»