The Labour leader’s visit to Bath to promote a new campaign to support high streets was overshadowed by a pub landlord accusing him of failing the country.
Rod Humphris outside the Raven pub with Keir Starmer | Image © Stephen Sumner
The Raven licensee Rod Humphris claimed the country had “f***ed its economy because old people are dying” and said Sir Keir Starmer had failed as opposition leader.
The Labour leader said he “profoundly” disagreed with Mr Humphris’ views on the lockdown and cast doubt on whether he thought there was a pandemic at all.
Co-owner Tim Perry has sought to distance the Raven from the backlash and said Mr Humphris’ views do not reflect the pub’s.
Mr Humphris told Sir Keir in the angry confrontation earlier today, Monday 19th April: “I’m incandescent about the job you’ve done. This country has f***ed its economy because old people are dying.
“You have failed me. I’ve been a Labour voter my entire life. You have failed to be the opposition. You’ve failed to ask if the lockdown is functioning.
“Thousands of people have died because you have failed to do your job and ask the real questions.
“You’ve allowed our children to wear masks in schools when there’s never been any evidence for it.”
Sir Keir, whose wife works in the NHS, said hospitals had nearly been overwhelmed with coronavirus cases “so I really don’t need lectures from you about this pandemic”.
His team ushered him into the Raven but Mr Humphris tried to force him out, saying: “That man is not allowed in my pub. Get out of my pub!”
The video went viral, with some saying they would not visit the Raven, while others congratulated Mr Humphris.
Image © Stephen Sumner
Mr Perry said: “The pub is getting blamed for it. We’re getting death by social media, when actually Rod’s the one that held those opinions, not me.”
Mr Humphris was unapologetic and said the pub should never have been locked down.
“It’s obvious lockdowns don’t save lives,” he said in an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“To me this is a matter of principle. It’s bigger than anything else going on at this moment. It’s bigger than this pub.
“If it damages the pub – whatever. This is more serious than that.”
Sir Keir was in Bath with Labour candidate for regional mayor Dan Norris to launch a commission to support high streets.
Eventful trip to the Raven in Bath for Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Warning – bad language from landlord Rod Humphreys pic.twitter.com/gjNtCsok6F— Stephen Sumner (@StephenSumner15) April 19, 2021
He told the Local Democracy Reporing Service: “He [Mr Humphris] profoundly thought we shouldn’t have had a lockdown, we shouldn’t have restrictions, and I’m not sure he really thought there was a pandemic.
“He is entitled to that view. I profoundly disagree with him, and I think the vast majority of people across Bath and the country will profoundly disagree with him.
— Stephen Sumner (@StephenSumner15) April 19, 2021
“Some people take the view that we don’t need restrictions – I don’t, because I’ve seen the number of people who’ve tragically lost their lives as a result this virus, I don’t because my wife works in the NHS and I know the impact on her hospital, and how close it was to being overwhelmed.
“He took a different view. I profoundly disagree.”
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
