Venue reveals theory on how activists pulled stage stunt on Truss

The venue where former Prime Minister Liz Truss was upstaged in a politically-motivated stunt says it has a theory about how activists pulled it off.

Led By Donkeys lowered a banner onto the stage at the Public Hall in Beccles, Suffolk on Tuesday, as Ms Truss addressed an audience.

A plain-clothed Metropolitan Police officer alerted her to the stunt – which showed a lettuce and the caption “I crashed the economy”, triggering the former PM to walk off stage.

Ms Truss later blamed left-wing activists claiming they were trying to suppress free speech.

Beccles Lido Ltd, a charity which operates The Public Hall, said it immediately began an investigation and believe activists had gone in during a previous booking.

Lee Johnson, chairman of Beccles Lido Ltd, told the BBC: “I’m not 100% sure how it happened, but we have got our strong theories around how it happened.

“We think the hall had been potentially hired by someone and that’s when the device was put in place.

“I am working with Richard [Melchior, venue manager] to ensure that any future bookings are looked at more stringently, to ensure that this sort of thing does not happen again.

“It is an unfortunate event. I do want to reiterate that Beccles Public Hall was not involved in this at all; that has been brought by Led By Donkeys, but it has put Beccles Public Hall on the map.”

In response to the stunt, Liz Truss posted on X: “What happened last night was not funny. Far-left activists disrupted the event, which then had to be stopped for security reasons.

“This is done to intimidate people and suppress free speech. I won’t stand for it.

“Would we see the same reaction if the activists were far-right?”

Suffolk Police said a 50-year-old man arrested on suspicion of burglary was questioned, released without charge and will face no further action.

Mr Johnson said Mr Melchior was upset and disappointed by the stunt, but praised him for immediately reviewing safety, including additional training for volunteer stewards.

Mr Johnson said he did not believe there was a risk to harm or the safety of Ms Truss, but he understood the importance of safety for her or any other guest or performer, as well as audiences.

He added: “I do know that Richard has reached out to her [Ms Truss] people, to reinforce the fact that the hall was not behind this prank.

“There will be reputational damage, but I think the board of trustees working with Richard, we came together really quickly after this incident, to ensure that any measures we put into place are there to ensure the safety of the public that come to the hall and to artists.”