Sir Kier Starmer was confronted by a climate activist on his visit to a Swindon supermarket.
While greeting people between the aisles at the Morrisons on Dorcan Way on Wednesday, the Labour leader was challenged by a woman from Green New Deal Rising on his party's climate policy.
Green New Deal Rising purports to be 'a movement of young people fighting for climate justice.'
In a post on the organisation's social media, they wrote: "We challenged Kier Starmer on Labour's "no money" excuse.
"Climate breakdown is here. His party CAN fund the Green New Deal if only they’re brave enough to tax the super-rich, and put a down payment on our future."
The exchange was captured on camera by someone else in the store (Image: Newsquest)
In the video, Kier Starmer, flanked by Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is approached by a woman who says: "I'm worried about my future and the climate crisis.
She adds: I used to vote Labour and I'm really worried about voting Labour because I feel like you're not putting enough into tackling the climate crisis."
Sir Keir replies "We're going for renewable energy by 2030. We'll be completely renewable, no more reliance on oil and gas."
He is challenged further on his answers, with the woman saying she didn't feel there was enough urgency and he wasn't putting enough money in after 'rolling back on the £28billion."
He adds: "I understand what you're saying, 2030 is the date we've set, we've not rolled back on that, and it will be tough to get there. We want to make this go to renewables because it's obviously much better for the planet, we go to renewables because it'll lower our energy bills and create energy security, it's a massive change."
Starmer is told that "it's not going to be enough", and he tells her "It is."
BREAKING: We challenged @Keir_Starmer on Labour's "no money" excuse.
— Green New Deal Rising (@GNDRising) June 19, 2024
Climate breakdown is here. His party CAN fund the Green New Deal if only they’re brave enough to tax the super rich, and put a down payment on our future.
Agree? Join us now: https://t.co/ZAOUcIbdkV pic.twitter.com/akuntCweyI
Later during his visit, the media and staff at the Morrisons questioned the man tipped to be the next Prime Minister.
Asked about the cost of housing, most people’s largest expense, Sir Keir said: “We need that housing, it needs to be affordable.
"Some staff here are struggling to pay their mortgages and dealing with high rents, but we must have the services around it – schools and GPs integrated into the community properly.
“When that’s done, people are supportive of it, but what they don’t like is housing without the backup facilities.”
With Swindon Borough Council reported to be approaching a ‘financial cliff-edge’ every budget season, Sir Keir was asked about government funding for councils.
He said: "I want to make sure that councils have the funding they need to provide the services that people are entitled to."
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