Kemi’s brutal three-word takedown of Keir Starmer | Politics | News

Kemi Badenoch launched a devastating attack on Keir Starmer last night, branding him weak, weak, weak. The Conservative leader criticized the Prime Minister for his poor response to the conflict in the Middle East, including the attack on an RAF base.

He also lashed out at its handling of China and Britain’s national security. The fiery ambush came as Sir Keir faced the triple humiliation of a major defense bungle, a Labor spy scandal and a bizarre row over the Chinese super-embassy. “Keir Starmer was weak on Iran, he was weak on China, he was weak on our national security,” Ms Badenoch told the Express.

The Prime Minister has so far faced harsh criticism for his “indecisive” response to the Middle East crisis. Donald Trump he ignored him, saying “No Churchill”.

It has been revealed that the Royal Navy’s guided missile destroyer HMS Dragon may not reach Cyprus for two weeks.

The £1bn warship was tasked with sailing to the Eastern Mediterranean after RAF Akrotiri, a British air base in Cyprus, was hit by a drone strike on Sunday.

However, it is understood that the Portsmouth-based Type 45 will remain in port for a few days and may not set sail until next week.

It will take about a week to reach the station, meaning Akrotiri will be without the destroyer’s protective umbrella for another two weeks.

Shadow Armed Forces minister Mark Francois said: “This is like Nelson arriving at Trafalgar a week late.”

In a further blow to the beleaguered Sir Keir, the partner of a Labor MP was arrested today on suspicion of spying for China.

Joani Reid’s partner David Taylor was detained by the Metropolitan Police and is being held under the National Security Act.

Two other men were also arrested; one was a 68-year-old in Powys, Wales, and the other was a 43-year-old in Pontyclun, also in Wales.

All three suspects were arrested on suspicion of aiding Chinese intelligence.

Moreover, campaigners have stepped up attempts to reverse the decision to build a controversial Chinese super embassy in London.

The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association, a group of 100 leaseholders who live in flats next to the 20,000 square meter complex near the Tower of London, has formally lodged its legal challenge after the government granted Beijing permission to build Europe’s largest embassy.

Critics warn this would allow China to intensify its espionage in the UK.

Ms Badenoch said: “When British bases come under attack, they rely on other countries to neutralize the missile sites firing at us.

“China gives up when Beijing demands a new Super Embassy spy center in the City of London in exchange for investment.

“When the government had the opportunity to explain in its Spring Statement how it would fund our armed forces, we achieved record prosperity and even more taxes.

“The Conservatives will always put Britain’s national interests first, defend our troops, fund our military and be mindful of the threats we face from hostile states.”

Earlier, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage mocked Sir Keir, saying the Churchill comparison was “pretty lame”.

He said: “The man is indecisive, everywhere, he is not a leader, he is a follower.”

Their brutal takedowns came on another dramatic day of the conflict, when a US submarine sank an Iranian warship and the Pentagon warned it would strike deeper into Iran.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir insisted the special relationship with the US would continue despite Mr Trump’s personal attack on him.

Mr Trump lashed out at Sir Keir for his initial refusal to allow British bases to be used for raids on Iran, saying “it’s not Winston Churchill we’re facing”.

In the House of Commons, Sir Keir stated that military and intelligence cooperation with the USA continues and said, “Adhering to President Trump’s last words is not a special relationship in practice.”

He defended the US decision not to allow it to use British bases in an initial attack on the Tehran regime, arguing that it might have been unlawful and lacked a “workable, well-thought-out plan”.

He told MPs that “the whole country is concerned about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East” and “therefore we must act clearly, purposefully and calmly”.

The UK’s air bases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, were initially denied to the US due to its attacks on the Iranian regime.

Sir Keir said: “What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to get involved in a war unless I was satisfied that there was a legal basis and a workable, considered plan. That remains my view.”

The Prime Minister eventually gave the US permission to use British bases for the limited purpose of attacking missile launchers and infrastructure, but RAF jets were not involved in striking Iran.

In other developments: Scores of commercial and charter flights left the UAE and Oman to bring back stranded Britons.

Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi was summoned by the British Government.

Economic uncertainty continued due to conflicts in the region, which plays an important role in international oil and gas supply.