UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer found himself in an awkward situation during a speech at the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool when he mistakenly called for the “return of sausages” instead of hostages while addressing the ongoing Gaza conflict. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was referring to Israeli civilians taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas when he made the gaffe, saying, “I call again for the return of the sausages – the hostages.” He quickly corrected himself, but the slip of the tongue soon went viral on social media.
The prime minister’s speech focused on the escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterating his call for a ceasefire in Gaza and advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas. He also urged for a renewed commitment to a two-state solution, supporting a recognized Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.
In his address, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also touched on the growing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, calling for restraint at the Israel-Lebanon border. He emphasized the need for all parties to “step back from the brink,” repeating his call for de-escalation in the region.
The speech was briefly interrupted by a protester from the audience who asked if UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s call for respect extended to the children of Gaza. In response, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer joked about the protester being from the 2019 Labour conference, adding, “While he’s been protesting, we’ve been changing the party,” referencing the Labour Party’s transformation and recent electoral success.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July after his Labour Party secured a landslide victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. His leadership has seen the party adopt a strong stance against antisemitism, a key issue under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s wife, Victoria Alexander, who is Jewish, has been praised for her efforts in combating antisemitism within the Labour Party.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 civilians and taking 250 hostages. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive in Gaza, which, according to Hamas-run health officials, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths. The UK government has also pushed for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza amid the crisis.
