An Express investigation revealed that activists from Youth Demand were plotting to “swarm” UK cities this week – so far they’ve lived up to their threat.
Drivers in Manchester push through Youth Demand activists standing in the road (Image: Youth Demand)
Activists from Youth Demand have been blocking Britain’s roads in a number major cities this week and have vowed they will “not stop until the government stops selling weapons to Israel“.
Express.co.uk revealed on November 8 that the band of eco-activists and pro-Palestine campaigners planned to “swarm” five UK cities over the course of a week, starting on Armistice Day.
Youth Demand have since deployed activists in London, Manchester and Leeds, standing in the road, blocking traffic and chanting “free Palestine” and “from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”.
Irate members of the public have been seen pleading with the activists to let them through, and on occasion attempting to manhandle them out of the way.
One clip, posted on X by Youth Demand yesterday, was captioned with the boastful message: “MANCHESTER SWARMED AGAIN AS GAZA AID ULTIMATUM EXPIRES.”
The aid ultimatum referred to in the message was given by the US to Israel, warning that there would be consequences if the amount of aid allowed into Gaza was not increased in the month from October 13.
In another clip, the group warned: “When @Keir_Starmer is fuelling genocide in Gaza, we have no choice but to disrupt. Stop arming genocide!”. Since taking office, Labour has halted 10 percent of arms sales to Israel.
Earlier today, Youth Demand activists blocked roads in Leeds. Angry drivers could be heard asking “what are you doing?”, and demanding they get out of the road.
Later in the clip motorists could be seen lifting activists out of the way of oncoming vehicles, allowing them to pass through.
On November 2, an undercover Express reporter recorded ringleader Arthur Clifton telling a group of activists, including members of Just Stop Oil: “This is the start of our strategy coming into place on November 11. With five cities across the country, Youth Demand will be getting out onto the roads, swarming, causing disruption [and] getting off before arrests are made, hopefully.”
Clifton, 23, who attended the prestigious £8,600-a-term Latymer Upper School, added that the demonstrations would be “highly coordinated, highly organised disruption on a nationwide level”.
