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More egg on his face: Ed Miliband pelted as he campaigns at Walworth market

Man had been following the Labour leader and a large group of journalists before throwing the eggs

Melanie Leather
Wednesday 14 August 2013 17:38 BST
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Labour leader Ed Miliband was pelted with eggs during a campaign visit to a south London street market today.

A man who gave his name as Dean Porter had been following the Labour leader, and a large group of journalists with him, suddenly began throwing a volley of eggs at his back.

At least one egg hit Mr Miliband on his head and jacket.

He was campaigning in East Street market in Walworth, near Elephant and Castle.

At least one journalist in the press party also caught an egg on the shoulder.

Following the incident, an aide quickly removed the Labour leader's stained jacket and he continued with his tour of the market, chatting to shoppers and stallholders apparently unperturbed.

Mr Miliband sought to make light of the incident.

"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."

Mr 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."

Mr Porter was later seized and quickly bundled away by market security officers.

Mr Miliband was the target of another egg attack in May 2012 when he was pelted by a mystery man during a walkabout in Southampton. After removing his dirty jacket, Mr Miliband joked that the man was "obviously not one of my fans".

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