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Hecklers have interrupted the chancellor’s speech at the Labour conference as they appeared to call for a halt to arms sales to Israel and for action on the environment.
Rachel Reeves was telling the conference in Liverpool how proud she was to be the UK’s first-ever female chancellor when shouting came from the hall.
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A young man in the middle of the audience stood up and could be heard shouting: “We are still selling arms to Israel, I thought we voted for change Rachel, climate breakdown is on our doorstep.”
Others shouted: “Free Palestine.”
Shouts of “stop oil” were also heard from around the audience.
Another man in front of the first heckler appeared to be trying to roll out a banner but an audience member in front of him grabbed it.
Security guards in the hall ran to the men and bundled them out quickly as the audience booed and shouted “down, down”.
Ms Reeves appeared stony-faced as she responded by declaring Labour has become “a party that represents working people, not a party of protest”.
She was cheered by the audience, who gave her a standing ovation.
Campaign group Climate Resistance has claimed responsibility for the protest and accused security of “violently” apprehending one of their protesters.
A statement from the group said campaigners argue “donations from polluting industries and Israel lobbyists to Labour are to blame for the government’s inaction”.
Earlier this month, the government suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel.
They said three of their members, who are also Labour Party members, were arrested and questioned by police for 30 minutes before being driven away from the venue and “de-arrested”.
Rachel Reeves was heckled during her speech
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