Rachel Reeves’ speech at Labour Party conference has been plunged into chaos after a pro-Palestine protester was thrown out of the ACC in Liverpool.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was just 10 minutes into her speech, was forced into a pause after a lone protester stood up to complain about the UK’s arms arrangement with Israel.
The heckler was heard shouting “we are still selling arms to Israel” just seconds after Reeves tore into the Tory Party over playing “fast and loose” with public finances.
Two men forcibly removed the protester from the ACC, with GB News footage showing the heckler being dragged out of the main hall.
Reeves’s speech was disrupted
GBN
He continued: “We voted for change, Rachel. Stop arming Israel.”
Labour Party delegates applauded as the protester was removed from the ACC.
Responding to the protest, Reeves said: “This is a changed Labour Party, a Labour Party that represents working people, and not a party of protest.”
The Climate Resistance has claimed responsibility for the protest.
Sam Simons, a spokesman for the campaign group, said: “Labour promised us change – instead we’re getting more of the same.
“The same pandering to the fossil fuel industry; the same arms licences that are fuelling a genocide in Gaza, and the same austerity that sees the poorest hit hardest.
”It’s time for Labour to start putting the needs of people before the interests of profit.
“That means immediately stopping arms licences to Israel, blocking new oil and gas, and standing up for the communities already being devastated by the climate crisis.”
Sir Keir Starmer was interrupted by a protester last year who decided to cover the now-Prime Minister in glitter.
The Labour Party, which came under fire for its stance on Israel’s war with Hamas last year, is now favouring an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy earlier this month announced 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel would be suspended.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The move impacted equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones.
Lammy’s announcement was criticised by Israel as it came just days after a group of hostages were found brutally killed in Hamas terror tunnels.
Pro-Palestine protesters have continued to push Labour to do more to suspend arms trade with Israel.
During her speech, Reeves vowed not to bring a return to austerity in her upcoming Budget.
She said: “Next month I will deliver the first Budget of this Labour government.
“And because I know how much damage has been done in those 14 years, let me say one thing straight up. There will be no return to austerity.
“Yes, we must deal with the Tory legacy, and that means tough decisions, but I won’t let that dim our ambition for Britain.
The lone protester was quickly removed from the ACC
PA
“So real ambition, a budget to fix the foundations, a budget to deliver the change that we promised a budget to rebuild, Britain, and my budget will keep our manifesto commitment.
“Every choice we make will be within a framework of economic and fiscal stability, you’d expect nothing less.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer also used her speech to mock Tory “titans” running to replace Rishi Sunak, pledged to show “iron discipline” in No11 and claimed her tax raid on private schools is the “fair choice”.
Defending Labour’s plan to cut Winter Fuel Payments, Reeves added: “We cancelled road and rail projects promised by the Conservatives which they did not budget for.
“And I made the choice to means test the Winter Fuel Payment so that it’s only targeted to those most in need.
“I know that not everyone in this hall or in the country will agree with every decision that I make. I will not duck those decisions for political expediency, not for personal advantage.”
Rachel Reeves also used her speech to mock Tory “titans” running to replace Rishi Sunak
PA
However, Reeves stressed she remains optimistic about the future of the UK.
She told delegates: “I believe in a better Britain, a Britain of opportunity, fairness and enterprise.
“I know that country has sometimes felt far off in recent years as our growth, our productivity and family finances all behind.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way. The British capacity for inventiveness, enterprise, often hard work, has not gone away.
“Believe me when I say, my optimism for Britain turns brighter than ever. My ambition knows no limits, because I can deceases if we make the right choices now… Growth is the challenge and investment is the solution.”