Labour ‘playing student politics while rest of the world rearms’, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to say
Kemi Badenoch will accuse Labor of “playing student politics” while “the rest of the world rearms” and renew her criticism of the UK Government’s response to the Iran war.
He will argue that Sir Keir Starmer is being “held hostage” by his party and is “too afraid of upsetting certain sections of Labour’s target voters” to act in the national interest.
Ms Badenoch called on the government to allow the RAF to launch attacks on Iranian missile launch sites, as suggested by Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Friday.
In his speech on Saturday, he will say that “allies feel they can no longer trust us” after US President Donald Trump’s extraordinary criticism in recent days over Britain’s refusal to allow the first attacks on Iran from UK bases.
Sir Keir defended the decision not to allow America to use British bases in its opening attack on the Tehran regime, suggesting it may have been unlawful and lacked a “workable, well-considered plan”.
On Sunday he allowed the US to use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to launch defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites as hostilities continue.
Ms Badenoch is expected to say in her speech: “I never thought I would see the day when Britain’s allies felt they could not trust us.”
The government has been criticized for not having an adequate military presence in the Middle East region following the drone strike of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Air defense destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the Eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week.
Ms Badenoch said Sir Keir was still “undecided” on what Britain’s role in the war should be, adding: “We are in this war whether Keir Stamer wants it or not. It’s time to act.”
He is expected to link the issue to domestic politics, claiming Labor’s defeat to the Greens in the solid parliamentary seats of Gorton and Denton last month “scared” the party.
“They watched as the Greens campaigned on sectarian voting lines, a tactic that Labor had used for many years turned against them,” Ms Badenoch will say.
“Starmer is now too afraid of upsetting sections of Labour’s target voters in ways that would act in our national interest.”
He is expected to add: “He is not even strong enough to win the competition with his own supporters. He is a political hostage.”
“It was organized at the behest of a bunch of sketchy left-wing MPs, none of whom seem to grasp the seriousness of the world Britain now finds itself in.
“While the rest of the world is rearming, they are playing student politics.”
It follows a row over Ms Badenoch’s claim that the UK military was “just messing around” in the Middle East and failing to take appropriate action.
Asked whether he supported opening fire on Iran’s missile bases, he told BBC Breakfast on Friday: “What else are our jets doing just hanging around there?”
“They need to be able to see who is attacking us and prevent them from shooting at British soldiers, or even British people in hotels.”
Defense Secretary John Healey said the remarks were “insulting to the men and women of our armed forces” and he should apologise.
Recent polls show that the most widespread view among the British public is that Britain’s stance in the conflict should be purely defensive.
Almost half, or 46 per cent, of those surveyed by YouGov between Wednesday and Thursday said this stance was closest to their view on what kind of orders the UK military should be given.
But the majority of respondents (52 per cent) believe Sir Keir has mishandled Britain’s relationship with Mr Trump, and 47 per cent agree with Sir Keir’s handling of Britain’s response to the war, the data shows.
Responding to Ms Badenoch’s remarks, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns said it was “highly irresponsible” to score political points over a serious security situation.
“This situation is above politics and requires calm collective decision-making, not exaggerated and empty words,” he said.
“British troops are doing a fantastic job and no-one should question their determination or competence.
“Serious times call for serious policies, not to score political points on the backs of our Armed Forces, our civil service or our Department of Defense staff who are doing a great job.”
