Starmer ‘too scared’ after by-election loss to support Trump’s war in Iran, Badenoch says
Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister, who was “intimidated” by last week’s by-election loss, of being “too afraid” to intervene in Iran.
Sir Keir Starmer suffered a humiliating byelection defeat to the Green Party in Gorton and Denton last week; This has led to concerns among Labor MPs that they could face further crushing losses at the hands of the left.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Harrogate on Saturday, Ms Badenoch suggested the result had affected the prime minister’s response to the unfolding war in the Middle East.
Accusing the government of “sitting on the fence” after being “spooked” by the Greens, she said: “Now Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of that electorate.
“Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq War, and no one in their right mind would suggest that we drop bombs without thinking.
“But Keir Starmer consulted lawyers for days to muster the courage to say whose side he was on.
“Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do this immediately and unequivocally, and even now our prime minister is on the fence. We are in this war whether Keir Starmer wants it or not.”
Accusing Labor of “playing student politics” while “the rest of the world is rearming”, he said Sir Keir was “not even strong enough to win the competition with his own supporters”.
“He is a political hostage,” he said.
“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.”
Britain was criticized for not taking air defense measures to adequately protect RAF Akrotiri, which was hit by a drone in Cyprus.
The Prime Minister was forced to reject criticism from opponents and allies that Britain did not act quickly enough when the war began, amid concerns that the air defense destroyer HMS would be activated. Dragon It is not expected to open to the Eastern Mediterranean until next week.
Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday announced the deployment of four additional British Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar to strengthen “defensive operations” in the region, but said he “stands by” the decision not to take part in the first strikes on Tehran at the weekend.
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.”
The Middle East war entered its eighth day on Saturday, with an American bomber landing in Britain amid US warnings of an “escalation” in attacks on Iran.
The 146ft B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening after Sir Keir Starmer gave permission for US “defensive” action against Iranian missile sites at UK bases.
Armed forces chief Sir Richard Knighton said he expected the US to launch missions from its Gloucestershire base “within the next few days”.
Meanwhile, a second government charter plane carrying British nationals from Oman touched down at Gatwick Airport at 12.30pm on Saturday as efforts to help people stranded in the war zone continued.
The Titan Airways flight took off from Muscat International Airport at 17.30 before a short stopover in Cairo, Egypt. The latest arrivals join around 6,500 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread fighting began in the region.
