Minister denies PM is ‘rattled’ after attack on Greens and Reform | Politics | News
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Munich Security Conference (Image: Getty)
Yvette Cooper has denied claims that the Prime Minister launched an attack on the Greens and Reform at the Munich conference on the grounds that she was “shaken”.
The Foreign Secretary was grilled about what UK domestic politics had to do with security watchers of the speech in Germany.
Ms Cooper said on Sunday that the “broader issue” was that “having partnerships abroad will make us stronger at home”.
He added: “The NATO alliance is really important in that respect and we have seen both Reform and the Greens undermine commitment to the NATO alliance.
Read more: Reform angers ‘liar’ Starmer after PM says party will be ‘soft’ on Russia
“I think it’s extremely important because I think our national security comes first and they take the threat from Russia seriously, but they don’t.”
He accused Reform UK of “failing to conduct an investigation into Russian interference within their own party, despite Welsh leaders being convicted of these links”.
He claimed that Reform UK “rejects Russia’s aggression and threat”.
Asked by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips whether this was actually a sign that the Prime Minister was “shaken” by domestic politics and a sign that he was about to leave, Ms Cooper said: “I don’t think that’s the case at all.”
Speaking at the conference, he added: “The partnerships Keir Starmer has built with other leaders, the work we do together, is extremely important.
“What I see here at the Munich Security Conference is respect for the UK, respect for the Prime Minister for the work he has done and the leadership he has shown.”
While Sir Keir did not mention either side by name in his speech on Saturday, he appeared to scrutinize them, questioning their commitment to European security.
“The easy-answer peddlers are ready on the left and right, and will instead offer their own solutions. It’s remarkable how much the different ends of the spectrum share. Soft on Russia, weak on NATO, not even openly opposed, and determined to sacrifice the relationships we need on the altar of their ideology.”
“The future they offer is one of division followed by surrender. All over Europe the lamps will go out once again.”
Zia Yusuf, chief policy officer at Reform UK, hit back, saying it was “clearly untrue” that Nigel Farage was “soft on Russia” and a bit “pro-Putin”.
Presented with Mr Phillips’s programme, which Sir Keir said and the Foreign Secretary backed up, that Nigel Farage was “soft on Russia” and slightly “pro-Putin”, Mr Yusuf said: “This is clearly not true.
“I mean, Nigel is the only political leader in this country to confirm live on air that he would actually shoot down Russian planes if they entered NATO airspace.
“No other political leader or Keir Starmer has said that.”
