A former head of MI6 has taken aim at the Prime Minister for refusing to offer the US and Israel the UK’s “full-throated” support on GB News.
Speaking to Camilla Tominey, Sir Richard Dearlove, who was the top chief of the Secret Intelligence Service during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, urged Labour to “take a stand”.
While cities across the Middle East have continued to endure a barrage of Iranian missiles, the Prime Minister announced British planes were “in the sky” as part of defensive operations to protect British nationals abroad, as well as UK allies.
However, this morning, Defence Secretary John Healey has repeatedly declared Britain “played no role” in the US-Israeli “pre-emptive” strikes which triggered the retaliation from Iranian forces.
On GB News, when asked repeatedly if Britain backed the US-Israeli “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran on Saturday morning, John Healey repeated the UK “was no part of the strikes yesterday and overnight”.
“We share the primary aim that the US have and allies in the region have, that Iran should never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Sir Keir Starmer has not issued a statement after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead by Iranian state TV.
Speaking to the ex-MI6 boss about the lack of “full-throated support” from the UK, Camilla said: “I’m struggling to determine whether or not the UK Government supports this military strike by the US and Iran… Where do you think Britain stands on this conflict?”
In response, he said: “Well, frankly, they’re sitting on the fence, and I think we have a real problem of Government by international lawyers who are not prepared to take a clear stand on a moral issue.
“And I’m very disappointed in the stance that the Government has taken.”
“The trouble is that there’s been a tradition in British foreign policy over a long period of time of appeasing Iran. And I think you see that reflected in this hesitancy to come out and make a clear statement of support for the American and Israeli positions.”
While senior Labour politician and former Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry argued US action in Iran was illegal, questions have been raised over Sir Keir’s inability to outright support or condemn Donald Trump’s decision.
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“We think, although John Healey won’t confirm that the Attorney General, Lord Hermer, thinks it might be illegal and therefore has suggested to Keir Starmer that he shouldn’t give it its full throated support,” Camilla put to the defence chief.
“Well, I’m not an international lawyer and I have a pretty cynical view of aspects of international law,” he replied.
“I think in this particular case, the killing of perhaps the bloodiest tyrant that we could imagine, is an issue on which most of us would have a pretty clear moral conscience.
“We shouldn’t be sort of teetering around in this reluctant way. And I can imagine what advice that has probably given to the Prime Minister, given his past record on these sorts of issues.”
He argued Sir Keir had “shown weakness” by not allowing the US to use UK military bases, including on Diego Garcia on the Chagos Islands.
“This is ridiculous. We should be taking a clear stand on these issues,” he told Camilla. “The end of this regime in Iran is strongly in the UK’s interest. We should have the confidence to express that view in our policies.”
This morning, when asked if Labour has refused to support the military action under Lord Hermer’s advice, Mr Healey refused to confirm Sir Keir Starmer had followed advice by the Attorney General that the military action might have breached international law.
He said: “It’s because our first focus, and our primary focus, our full focus, is on the defensive action that we can contribute, not just to protecting our own people in the region, but to the wider regional stability and the prevention of further escalation.
“Those are my three top priorities as Defence Secretary, and that sits alongside the determination that the Prime Minister is showing over the weekend, speaking to E3 leaders, leaders in the wider Middle East, as well as to President Trump.”