Labour leader Ed Miliband being pelted with eggs during a campaign visit in East Street market in south London. Photo: Lewis Whyld/PAUK politician Ed Miliband has been pelted with eggs during a chaotic campaign visit to a street market.
The Labour leader was struck on the head and shoulder when a man in the crowd hurled a volley of eggs at him.
The attacker, wearing a fluorescent jacket, was hurriedly seized by security officers at the East Street market in Elephant and Castle, south London, and bundled away.
At least one journalist in the large media party following Mr Miliband also took a direct hit while others were splattered with egg.
Mr Miliband appeared unperturbed and carried on with his visit, chatting to shoppers and stallholders, after aides removed his stained jacket.
I’m always looking for new ways to connect with voters
“This is not the first time it’s happened to me, I’m sure it’s not the last,” he said. “I’m always looking for new ways to connect with the voters.”
Posting on Twitter, he later wrote: “Thanks to all at East St Market for the warm welcome today. Can recommend it for easy availability of eggs.”
As he was led away, the man, who gave his name as Dean Porter, told reporters that it had been an “opportunistic moment”.
“They should stop giving favouritism to the banks. They do nothing. The Government do nothing. The shadow government do nothing,” he said.
“I don’t believe him at all. If you are poor, you are considered a burden. All they care about is the banks.”
While Mr Miliband brushed off the incident, he could not avoid questions about the growing murmurings within his own ranks over his leadership and the slide in Labour’s opinion poll lead over the Conservative Party.
He rejected complaints that the party had failed to make any impact over the summer, insisting he was taking the fight to the coalition over what he called the “cost of living crisis” and offering a “comprehensive alternative” on the economy.
Scotland Yard said Mr Miliband did not want police to take the matter further.