PM’s speech interrupted by Gaza protester, promoting leader to respond that party has changed since 2019 conference.The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for “restraint and de-escalation” between Israel and Hezbollah at his Labour Party’s annual conference, although his speech was interrupted by a heckler protesting against the UK’s continuing support for Israel in its war on Gaza.
Addressing party delegates on Tuesday, Starmer urged “all parties to step back from the brink” as Israel and Hezbollah traded cross-border attacks for a second day in a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions.
Starmer also appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas “as a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel”.
The UK media picked up on an apparent stumble, which saw Starmer calling for a return of the “sausages” instead of the “hostages”, immediately correcting himself.
About 100 Israeli captives are still believed to be in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza continues to pose a challenge to the Labour Party, which won a landslide victory in July’s election. As the opposition leader, Starmer only called for a ceasefire in February under intense public pressure after opposing a ceasefire resolution in the UK Parliament.
On Monday, a protester shouting about British arms sales to Israel briefly interrupted a speech given by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. On Tuesday, activists attempted to write “Genocide conference” at the entrance to the convention centre.
Starmer’s own speech was interrupted by a protester shouting about Gaza.
He resumed his spe …
