British Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls Israeli hostages ‘sausages’ in Labour Party conference speech

Keir Starmer’s big speech at the Labour Party conference was to re-set a torturous start as Prime Minister amidst accusations of sleaze, but he will be remembered for an embarrassing stumble | WATCH

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suffered an embarrassing stumble during his landmark speech at the Labour conference on Tuesday, calling Israeli hostages as “sausages”.

The speech, his first to the conference as PM, was meant to reassure an increasingly incredulous British public about Labour’s intent, coming after weeks of scandal around Starmer receiving more than $200,000 in freebies including donated clothes and a personal dresser for his wife Victoria.

Pensioners and the union movement are also furious at the “mean” decision to remove the winter fuel subsidy for 10 million elderly people, while small business owners and taxpayers are fearing anticipated tax hikes. But Starmer insisted the widespread criticisms were “water off a duck’s back”.

Instead of acknowledging the country’s concerns, just months after a landslide election victory, the PM has shown a tone deaf approach and political inflexibility. Sixty per cent of voters disapprove of his leadership, just 100 days in. His biggest promise is to no longer accept free clothes.

Sir Keir Starmer hugs his wife Victoria after delivering his keynote speech.

Then a desire to be taken more seriously unravelled when during his speech at the conference in Liverpool, he spoke about the Hamas and Israel war.

“I call again for restraint and de-escalation between Lebanon and Israel,’’ he said.

“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.”

There was a brief pause, and of recognition of what he had said, before he restarted, saying “the hostages, and a recommitment to the two-state solution, a recognised Palestine and a safe and secure Israel.”

Starmer told the British public that they had to be patient, warning that the British countryside will be covered with more electricity pylons and the construction of more prisons to deliver a national renewal.

“So if we want justice to be served some communities must live close to new prisons,” he said, adding, “If we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons over ground otherwise the burden on taxpayers is too much.”

He said: “The time is long overdue for politicians to level with you about the trade-offs this country faces.”

He ticked off a laundry list of benefits that his government would achieve.

Starmer added: “More money in pockets to do the things they love and more faith in public services, because once again Labour has rebuilt them. An NHS facing the future, more security and dignity at work. Town centres thriving, streets safe, borders controlled at last, clean energy harnessed for industrial renewal, new homes, new towns, new hospitals, roads and schools, a new future for our children. That is what people will get. And mark my words, we will deliver it.”

Senior Tory MP Robert Jenrick said the speech showed the prime minister had a “dour plan” for the United Kingdom and that after 14 years in opposition Labour had no plans to grow the economy, reform the NHS or control and reduce immigration.

“This was the speech of a Prime Minister at the end of his five-year term, not three months in. Sir Keir is already a busted flush – a Mr Grey, with a dour plan for the UK,’’ Mr Jenrick said.