Yesterday (23 June) saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer announce to the nation that he plans to step down as leader of the Labour party, paving the way for another MP to take the top job (most likely Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield and former Mayor of Greater Manchester).
During the start of Starmer's speech – which at points saw him become visibly emotional when referencing his wife, Victoria, and their two children – Beethoven's Ode to Joy was playing nearby at a distractingly loud volume, which was all a bit reminiscent of former PM, Rishi Sunak, announcing his resignation in the rain to a soundtrack of Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream. Turns out, there's a reason for that...
But who was blasting the music during such a poignant moment, and why did they do it? Full details below:
What song was playing during Keir Starmer's resignation speech?
The recognisable tune was Ode to Joy, from the classical German composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. This particular choice of song could be interpreted as a slight against Starmer, whose popularity rating in the polls has steadily plummeted since he came to power in July 2024, given its celebratory nature – contrasting with Starmer emotionally outlining his plans to hand over the reigns to whoever wins the upcoming Labour leadership contest (or... if nobody else enters said contest, those reigns will be placed straight into the hands of Burnham).
However, the person responsible for playing the music claims this isn't the case and that no offence was meant.
Who was the man playing Ode to Joy during the Prime Minister's speech?
The person responsible is believed to be the Liberal Democrat, anti-Brexit campaigner, Steve Bray, sometimes dubbed as the 'Stop Brexit Man' – he's also thought to be the person who blasted the Labour campaign anthem, Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream, during Conservative PM Rishi Sunak's departure speech in May 2024 (which triggered the general election that Starmer went on to win).
Everyone's clicking on...
As a result of his interruption to Sunak's speech, it's reported that Bray was banned from the Whitehall and Parliament area. Clearly, that ban was not super effective yesterday...
Who is Steve Bray?
Previously standing as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the 2019 election (and losing), Welshman Steve Bray has made a name for himself protesting Brexit and urging the Government to investigate potential Russian interference into the crucial vote.
Bray also orchestrated a political protest outside former Tory PM Boris Johnson's wedding to Carrie Symonds.
Prior to becoming a political activist, Bray served in the British Army. He has become recognisable for wearing a blue top hat and carrying a Brexit-related placard.
Why did Steve Bray interrupt Sir Keir Starmer's speech?
According to a post on X, believed to be from Bray, he said there was another protestor standing nearby with a megaphone shouting disrespectful things during Starmer's speech – and in Bray's mind, he was actually doing the PM a favour (sure?).
The post reads: "In case anyone has the wrong idea! Ode to Joy was played out of respect [at] background volume! If you were at Downing Street there was a man with megaphone slagging off Labour and Keir constant[ly]. It could be heard, so there you go. Not disrespectful in my opinion, but you are entitled to your opinion.
"It was Ode to Joy or the guy with megaphone shouting all the way through."
In response, the Conservative party's Sir Oliver Dowden later raised Bray in the Commons and asked if David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, would "sit down with the police and find some way of stopping this ridiculous heckling and disruption on the steps of Downing Street, when [Prime Ministers are] trying to make statements which further adds to our considerable international embarrassment."
