Protesters angry at the government following the fire at Grenfell Tower held a banner in front of housing minister Alok Sharma as he attempted to open a community festival.

The MP was disrupted while on stage at the Bastille Festival Reading on Saturday (July 15), when demonstrators unfurled the banner, which read “Justice 4 Grenfell. Shame on Sharma”, Get Reading reports.

He has been criticised following the Notting Hill housing block fire, which killed at least 80 people on June 14.

Protesters at Bastille Festival Reading

In the days after the blaze, the Reading West MP appeared on a special BBC Victoria Derbyshire show, filmed near the scene of the devastating fire at Maxilla Hall Social Club , and on July 5 he wiped away tears while telling MPs of his meetings with survivors from Grenfell Tower (see video below).

He was interrupted while opening the community event at Forbury Gardens, with campaigners unfurling the banner while he spoke on stage.

A video shows him being mostly obscured by the large white banner, held by two people.

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As the MP walks off the stage, the protesters also walk away, only for Mr Sharma to hop back onto the stage and say: ”It really is open, you can enjoy yourselves now, the protesters have disappeared,” to which the protesters responded to by shouting “Justice for Grenfell”.

Despite the protests, organiser Vincent Valère said the event was the most successful ever held in Reading.

Police say 37 of those who died in the fire have now been formally identified.

A total of 21 of those have not been named publicly following requests from families.

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