Merchandise At Momentum's The World Transformed Fringe 'Mocks' 'Free Prosthetic Limbs'

'FREE PROSTHETIC LIMBS!!!'

Merchandise being sold at a Momentum-organised event at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool appears to make light of the injuries suffered by disabled veterans.

A picture tweeted by Financial Times journalist, Sebastian Payne, shows a selection of spoof British Army recruiting merchandise proclaiming “free prosthetic limbs” at The World Transformed event.

The booklets and mugs also state the armed forces “make stuff dead” and are “like prison but with more fighting”.

From The World Transformed fringe: a stall selling British Army “Make Stuff Dead” mugs and a book mocking "free prosthetic limbs” #Lab16 pic.twitter.com/tq6nQ9DKKZ

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) September 25, 2016

The World Transformed is a cultural festival “powered by Momentum” being held as a fringe event at the 2016 Labour Party conference in Liverpool this weekend.

The World Transformed, at the Black-E centre in Liverpool.
The World Transformed, at the Black-E centre in Liverpool.
Matt Crossick/Matt Crossick

The merchandise in question is not produced by Momentum but by the London-based artist, Darren Cullen.

@SebastianEPayne Christ. Nobody wants wars, but to mock the army is puerile.

— Gareth Philips (@GarethPhilips) September 25, 2016

@SebastianEPayne One wonders how low it can sink. Poor taste seems to be endemic among these people

— Enid Driscoe (@EnidDriscoe) September 25, 2016

Cullen’s work did have its supporters, some of whom appear to be veterans themselves.

@darren_cullen @GuidoFawkes @vfpuk @TheSun I think they're funny as fuck and I have war PTSD. 👍

— Skip Licker (@SkipLicker) September 25, 2016

@SkipLicker @SebastianEPayne that Make Stuff Dead mug is going to go down a storm ! Proper squaddie humour & they don't even know it

— Simon Crowther (@CrowtherSi) September 25, 2016

A Momentum spokesperson said: “Darren Cullen, a satirical artist, illustrator and artist produced this artwork with Veterans for Peace UK in order to highlight the horrors of war, including the detrimental physical and mental impact it has on soldiers, especially teenagers.

“It was featured on Darren Cullen’s stall at The World Transformed, which he had on Sunday. Momentum intended no offence or disrespect to members of the Armed Forces.”

Other things available separately from the event include a selection of poems honouring the Labour leader.

Very high hopes for this pic.twitter.com/vezbaGYwng

— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) September 25, 2016

Best £10 you'll spend at Momentum conference pic.twitter.com/oMQJXla4Td

— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) September 25, 2016

And if you like you can hear Michael Deacon read some out here.

And now for something completely different: @MichaelPDeacon reads from 'Poems For Jeremy Corbyn' at #Lab16 https://t.co/buMkO7T22c

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 25, 2016

Momentum are also holding events aimed at children, one in which they will be asked “what does your teddy stand for”.

The ‘Teddy Bear Mandate’ session in Liverpool on Sunday will require youngsters to imagine which party the toy might join and led, what its mandate would be, and what its values are.

The event will also encourage youngsters to “make signs and banners and stage a mock protest”, according to an advert in the Red Pepper magazine.

How will your teddy change the world? - One of our #MomentumKids sessions at #TWT2016, from @RedPeppermag pic.twitter.com/Y0lYSdiVct

— TheWorldTransformed (@TWT_NOW) September 19, 2016
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