Student heckler says Starmer ‘won’t lift a finger’ to help Gaza

A student who heckled Sir Keir Starmer during his speech at the Labour Party conference has told Sky News the prime minister would “not lift a finger” to help the people of Gaza amid the conflict with Israel.

Daniel Riley, who is 18 and from Jersey, interrupted Sir Keir’s speech in Liverpool to shout about the “children of Gaza”, before he was bundled out by security.

Sir Keir answered his shouts with a jibe, saying: “This guy’s obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference” – the last of the annual events where Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

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Earlier in his speech, the prime minister urged “restraint and de-escalation at the border between Lebanon and Israel“.

He added: “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 hostages and a recommitment to the two-state solution – a recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”

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Speaking to Sky News after the incident, Mr Riley, who joined the party in 2022 after Sir Keir became leader, said he had not planned to heckle but felt the need to speak out after the prime minister’s remarks.

“When I heard him speak about how he wanted a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, [it was] the hypocrisy how every day we’re still sending British bombs and British bullets that are being used in Gaza and in Lebanon right now and the prime minister, he could stop that right now and he doesn’t,” he said.

“He just wants things to stop but he won’t lift a finger to stop them.”

Mr Riley said the “complete failure” of Sir Keir and his ministers to address what was happening was completely sickening”, and he called for the complete suspension of arms sales to Israel, “not just empty platitudes to conference halls of people who support you”.

Earlier this month, the government announced it would be suspending some arms sales to Israel.

The student confirmed his pass for the conference had been revoked, but was unsure if he would be kicked out of the party. However, he praised the security at the event, saying: “They had to get me out of there quite quickly but they were very understanding.”