Sir Keir’s unfortunate gaffe in first party conference speech as PM: Starmer calls for ‘return of the sausages’ while talking about Gaza hostages
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made an awkward mishap during his Labour conference speech today.
Sir Keir addressed a packed out conference venue in Liverpool today where he spoke about the crisis in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The PM urged for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza and went on call for a ‘return of the sausages’, seemingly fumbling his words before correcting himself.
He said: ‘I call again for restraint and de-escalation between Lebanon and Israel. I call again for all parties to pull back from the brink.
‘I call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the return of the sausages… the hostages, and a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognised Palestine and a safe and secure Israel.’
Despite the awkward gaffe, Starmer has previously sworn off eating meat – except for fish – while his wife Victoria has been vegetarian for years.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made an awkward mishap during his Labour conference speech today
Sir Keir addressed a packed out conference venue in Liverpool today where he spoke about the crisis in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas
Starmer used his keynote speech at the Labour conference today to launch a bid to reboot his fledgling premiership as he begged Brits to be ‘patient’ and stick with his ‘painful choices’ rather than go down the ‘road to nowhere’.
The PM struck a more positive tone in his first address to activists since taking power, as he tries to move on from damaging rows over winter fuel allowance, tax hikes and freebies.
Watched by wife Victoria, Sir Keir told the gathering in Liverpool the country can find the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ if the right course is set now.
But he warned there were no ‘easy answers’ and the task would be ‘hard’ – pointing the finger at the Tories for ‘serving themselves’ and pleading with restive Labour supporters to take ‘pride’ in what they were achieving.
Acknowledging that he will not ‘get everything right’, Sir Keir said ‘populist’ criticism of his performance so far was ‘water off a duck’s back’.
‘This is a long-term project, I’ve never pretended otherwise. But conference make no mistake, the work of change has begun,’ he said. ‘We’re only just getting started.’
In a nod to voters’ priorities, Sir Keir will also highlight his commitments to tackling high immigration and crack down on benefits fraud.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures as he delivers his keynote speech during the Labour Party conference
The PM’s wife Victoria was among the crowd at the conference venue in Liverpool
The PM was later joined on stage by his wife Victoria
The speech follows a torrid spell for Labour that saw any feelgood factor from the July election landslide abruptly disappear.
The party has spent weeks fielding difficult questions about the thousands of pounds of gifts received by Sir Keir and senior figures such as Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner.
And unions and MPs are furious about the scrapping of winter fuel payments for 10million pensioners, with a showdown vote at conference potentially happening tomorrow. Sir Keir will not be present – as he is dashing off to New York straight after the speech to attend the UN general assembly.
Before Sir Keir appeared activists were pumped up with a Star Wars-style display on the big screens of the list of constituencies Labour won on July 4.
The PM was then teed up with a video showing the events of election night, and his victory comments.
Striding on stage he compared the conference having the highest attendance in history to his first speech – to just a cameraman under Covid rule. ‘Do you remember? Most people don’t,’ he joked.
Sir Keir said he was aiming to ‘build a new Britain’, telling conference: ‘Built from that age-old spirit of creativity and enterprise. The pride and ambition of working people.
‘That when matched by a government of service, a decisive government, a government prepared to use its power for justice, opportunity and equal respect, can deliver a Britain that belongs to you.’
