Westmonster! Labour by-election candidate is revealed to be Greenpeace activist who dressed up as a zombie for eco-zealot stunt
- Labour candidate Alistair Strathern, 33, pretended to be a zombie in an eco stunt
A Labour by-election candidate has been unmasked as a Greenpeace eco-clown who posed as a zombie during a protest in November.
Alistair Strathern, 33, wore face paint and pretended to be a mindless undead ghoul in a demonstration outside the Home Office last year.
It comes as the Government cut ties with Greenpeace following an anti-oil protest that saw eco zealots from the group climb on the roof of Rishi Sunak’s constituency home.
Sir Keir Starmer was told to get rid of eco zealot Mr Strathern by Energy Security and Net Zero minister Grant Shapps last night.
He said that ‘one minute [Greenpeace eco activists] are climbing the PM’s house, next they’ve got a Labour rosette on’.
Labour candidate Alistair Strathern, 33, (third from right) pretended to be a zombie in an eco stunt for Greenpeace last year
The eco-zealot (centre) was pictured smiling alongside Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in July this year
On Monday the eco-zealot was canvassing in Bedfordshire as he tried to win votes ahead of the by-election
The eco-zealot is running for Labour to replace Nadine Dorries once she leaves Parliament (pictured, his by-election campaign advert)
Sir Keir Starmer was told to get rid of eco zealot Mr Strathern (pictured) by Cabinet minister Grant Shapps this evening
He said that ‘one minute [Greenpeace eco activists] are climbing the PM’s house, next they’ve got a Labour rosette on’
The Labour candidate posed outside Parliament last year, where he hopes to win a seat
The Conservative MP told The Sun that Labour leader Starmer needed to ban the ‘eco-mob’ from running as candidates for his party.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: ‘A vote for Labour is literally a vote for the eco-zealots.’
Mr Strathern is Labour’s candidate to contest the Mid Bedfordshire seat set for a by-election once Nadine Dorries stops being an MP.
His partner Megan Corton-Scott is a political campaigner for Greenpeace.
Mr Strathern also protested outside Parliament against laws aimed at preventing disruption caused by Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.
After the protest on the Prime Minister’s roof, a Government spokesman said: ‘Greenpeace’s criminal activity last week demonstrates that they are not a serious organisation, therefore, we do not think it’s appropriate to engage with them.’
Greenpeace activists moving fabric on the roof of Rishi Sunak´s house in Richmond, North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s constituency home in Richmond is targeted by Greenpeace
A group of demonstrators had scaled Mr Sunak’s Grade II-listed constituency manor house to protest against plans to grant more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea.
The activists draped an oil-black fabric from the roof, staying there from about 8am to 1.15pm, when they were arrested and later bailed amid an ongoing investigation by North Yorkshire Police.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We obviously don’t think that people who are accused of breaking the law should have a seat at the table in discussions with Government.
‘My understanding is that Defra aren’t engaging with Greenpeace because of those actions.
‘I don’t think it’s unusual for Defra or other agencies to engage with climate action groups – that’s taken place for a number of years.
Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s house in Richmond, North Yorkshire, last week
Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s house in Richmond
Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s house in Richmond
The protesters carry out the stunt on the Prime Minister’s mansion in Yorkshire
‘But clearly, given their actions and the arrests last week, we don’t think it’s appropriate to engage with them.’
Greenpeace defended the protest amid a backlash as ‘carefully and meticulously’ planned for when the Prime Minister, his wife and children were on holiday in California, amid a backlash over security concerns.
The group said ending engagement with its representatives ‘isn’t going to work’ as it accused ministers of espousing a ‘bunker mentality’ about climate issues.
Will McCallum, UK co-executive director of Greenpeace, said: ‘Burying your head in the sand isn’t going to make the climate crisis go away.
‘It’s precisely because the Government has effectively shut the door to civil society groups, like Greenpeace, as well as ignoring warnings from the UN, its own advisers and the International Energy Agency, that we need to protest in the way that we do.
‘The bunker mentality on display from this current Government is deeply damaging – cutting ties with Greenpeace isn’t going to help. We represent the views of millions of our supporters and have a mandate to hold the Government to account.’
MailOnline has contacted Labour, Greenpeace and Mr Strathern for comment.
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