During her keynote address at the Labour Party conference, Rachel Reeves had to momentarily pause her speech due to disruptions caused by a pro-Palestine protester. The protester shouted about the situation in Palestine, leading to a brief halt in Reeves’ speech.
Reeves acknowledged the protester’s concerns, stating the party’s support for the Palestinian cause and its recognition of a Palestinian state. She emphasized the party’s transition from a protest-oriented group to a governing entity.
Outside the conference venue in Liverpool, demonstrators rallied against the UK’s arms sales to Israel, calling for a halt to such transactions. The disruptive protester, identified as “Sam P,” was escorted out by security personnel and subsequently handed over to Merseyside Police.
Groups like Palestine Youth Movement and London for a Free Palestine claimed responsibility for the protest action, highlighting the urgency to end what they described as a British-supported genocide in Palestine.
The incident occurred following Keir Starmer’s announcement of the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state, prompted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to meet certain demands amid escalating tensions in the region. Starmer condemned the violence and devastation in Gaza, stressing the need for immediate cessation of hostilities.
Responding to the disruption, Reeves reaffirmed the party’s commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state but emphasized the tangible changes the party is making in government, including increasing the minimum wage, implementing free breakfast clubs, and reducing interest rates.
Reeves’ remarks were met with applause from the conference attendees, underscoring the party’s evolution and her role as Chancellor of the Exchequer.