GB News host Stephen Dixon called out the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats for “playing semantics” in a tense exchange over Sir Keir Starmer’s actions on Iran.
Speaking to GB News Breakfast, Daisy Cooper argued the Prime Minister must offer a “clear definition” of what constitutes “defensive action” before proceeding.
Asked whether the Lib Dems support Sir Keir’s decision to deploy HMS Dragon to Cyprus, she told GB News they “need to know how the equipment will be used”.
She said: “Events are moving quickly, and we need the Prime Minister to be really clear about how he intends our armed forces and our ships and everything else to be used if it is truly defensive action.
“And if he can define what that defensive action is that, then yes, we could support that. But we are worried that there is a slippery slope towards offensive action and we do need that definition.”
Pushing back on Ms Cooper’s remarks, Stephen accused the Lib Dem MP of “playing semantics” at a time when events are “moving quickly”.
He hit back: “With the greatest of respect, you’re playing semantics a little bit, aren’t you? By saying you need this definition from Keir Starmer, this is all happening so quickly and a lot of it, frankly, the military would say is common sense in terms of what we do in in defensive action.
“Whether we allow, as Keir Starmer has said, the us of UK facilities to launch attacks on Iranian missile strike missile hubs to to take that threat out at source, all that is frankly common sense?”
Daisy Cooper was scolded for ‘playing semantics’ by GB News host Stephen Dixon in a clash over Iran
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Dismissing Stephen’s argument, Ms Cooper said when it comes to “international law”, it “really matters what the Government is saying”.
She told GB News: “In international law, words matter, definitions matter, and actions matter. Yes, we accept, of course, that things are moving quickly, but it is for the Prime Minister to come forward.
“I think we owe it to our armed forces and our military personnel that they know that if the Prime Minister of this country is asking them to do something, that they have the certainty to know that they are acting within international law.”
In disagreement with Ms Cooper, Stephen reprimanded the Lib Dem Deputy Leader for wanting to “sit around and talk while Rome burns”.
Keir Starmer has confirmed HMS Dragon and helicopters with counter-drone capabilities will be deployed to Cyprus
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Stephen stressed: “But it’s all happening now? It’s literally happening as we speak, and it’s no good to sit around and talk as Rome burns, is it?
“We don’t want a lot of academics or lawyers sitting around chatting through this, preventing our good men and women of the armed forces doing what they need to do. They can talk about it, but in the meantime, action has to be taken.”
Remaining adamant that the debates “do matter” at a time of such international events, Ms Cooper responded: “Look, we’re not talking about academics and lawyers having a big conversation about this.
“We have a parliamentary democracy in this country – members of Parliament, like myself, are elected to speak up for our constituents, to raise their concerns, to ask questions, to hold the Prime Minister to account, and to make sure that the Prime Minister of the day, who is giving instructions to military personnel and that whatever those instructions are in accordance with international law.”
She continued: “So I’m afraid those debates do matter, and that’s why we Liberal Democrats continue to call for debates in Parliament to allow and encourage the Prime Minister to come forward, to make his argument.
Daisy Cooper told GB News ‘democracy matters’ when it comes to international law
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GB NEWS
“We will give him a due hearing and listen to what he has to say. We know things are moving quickly, but democracy matters in this country and so does international law.”
In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, Sir Keir confirmed the UK will send air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to protect British military personnel in Cyprus.
He said: “The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there.
“We’re continuing our defensive operations, and I’ve just spoken with the President of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters with counter-drone capabilities and HMS Dragon is to be deployed to the region.”