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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Sophie Halle-Richards

M People 'livid' after Prime Minister Liz Truss uses Moving On Up song for Tory conference walkout

Manchester DJ Mike Pickering has fumed over Liz Truss using his song to walk out to her speech at the Conservative party conference.

The former Hacienda icon and member of M People said the Prime Minister should pay attention to the lyrics of the band's song Moving on Up as she appeared on stage to the song in Birmingham.

Ms Truss said "I stand here today as the first prime minister of our country to have gone to a comprehensive school," as the 90s classic played in the background.

READ MORE: Liz Truss forced to stop Conservative party speech due to protesters

Mr Pickering told PA: "I was just looking at the lyrics. It’s amazing. I hope she takes note. It’s about, 'Go and pack your bags and get out.'"

Asked why he thought the song had been used, he replied: "No one said to them 'Tony Blair and new Labour used that song all the time' or 'Heather’s son is a Labour councillor' or 'Mike is really vociferous on Twitter and social media about being an anti-Tory’'

Liz Truss speaks during the final day of the Conservative Party Conference (Getty Images)

"I don’t know why they have used it. "They are so useless at everything. Who knows?" The M People founder said the entire band are "livid" at the PM's use of the song, which he claims was done without seeking their permission.

He added: "They (the band) are livid. Heather’s boy James is a Labour councillor. Hopefully most people will know that they have pirated it off us. She won’t be around to use it again for very long, I would imagine." I am absolutely gutted by it because they are killing the live touring of bands and artists."

Mr Pickering also voiced his frustration on Twitter saying he didn't want his song 'being a soundtrack of lies." He wrote: "So apparently we can't stop Truss walking out to our song, very weird! So sad it got used by this shower of a government. BTW Truss, Labour used it with permission in 90s."

Liz Truss personally selected M People song Moving On Up for her walk-on music, her press secretary said.

“There was a range of options and she chose that one,” her press secretary said.

He was unable to say whether the party had asked the band for permission.

“I don’t have detailed knowledge of how the licensing of this stuff works,” he said.

When asked about Mr Pickering’s criticism, the press secretary said: “I don’t know who he is.”

The Prime Minister's speech quickly had to be paused after protesters interrupted the conference. The two women held a flag which read 'who voted for this?' as the Prime Minister delivered her keynote speech. The banner also had the Greenpeace on it.

The pair were ejected from the hall shortly afterwards. The crowd then cheered and Ms Truss laughed as she continued speaking.

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