Dame Priti Patel has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer, declaring him an “untrustworthy” and “failing” Prime Minister.
Speaking to GB News, the former Home Secretary hit out at his “attempt to reverse Brexit” following his appearance at the Munich Security Conference.
Addressing the summit, Sir Keir said the UK will seek “deeper economic integration” with the European Union and “move closer to the single market” in more sectors, as the “status quo is not fit for purpose”.
He declared: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore. Because we know that in a dangerous world, we would not take control by turning inward, we would surrender it, and I won’t let that happen.”
Hitting out at the PM, Dame Priti told GB News: “I completely disagree with his attempt to reverse Brexit. He doesn’t have the mandate to do it. And of course, we’ve been watching him over the last 12 months on our fisheries, giving them away with that 12-year deal that he has agreed with the EU, and I would argue that this is not the right time to be doing this.
“Of course, his approach is completely wrong. He’s not transparent about this, and I have to say, it is desperate politics to appease his backbenchers and his political party.
“And quite frankly, there are so many major domestic issues that he should be focused on, and it’s yet another distraction strategy by Keir Starmer and his failing prime ministership. He has lost authority in his party.”
As host Camilla Tominey argued Sir Keir has the “support of Marco Rubio” on closer alignment with the EU, the top Tory disagreed.
Priti Patel has launched a scathing attack on ‘weak’ and ‘untrustworthy’ Keir Starmer
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GB NEWS / PA
She responded: “Well, actually, I think the two are totally different. I think what Secretary Rubio has been referring to is absolutely in terms of the strategic partnership and alliance, the historic alliance that has existed between the United States and Europe for decades.
“His speech was well considered and well thought out in the way in which he delivered it, and he spoke about that historic relationship. We know very, very well that Britain stands strong outside of the EU. It was the United Kingdom that led the response to Russia’s illegal invasion in Ukraine. And on that basis alone, this is not about greater alignment with the EU on issues such as climate and all those all those political areas that Keir Starmer is focusing on.
“The reality is right now, what we’ve heard from the Americans at the security conference is that we all need to put hard cash back into our defence and security. We have to address the world that we live in right now, not look backwards, but look forwards. And we have to confront the axis of authoritarianism and those states that are working to undermine our democratic values and freedoms.”
Pressed on whether she believes the Prime Minister will stick to his manifesto pledges, to “not re-enter the single market or the customs union”, Ms Patel told GB News: “No, of course I do not believe him at all. I think he’s completely untrustworthy on these issues. He says one thing and does another.
Sir Keir addressed world leaders in Munich this weekend
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REUTERS“And of course, this is a Prime Minister that I think is now up to U-turn number 15 or 16, and the British public can see that we’ve got a weak and feeble Prime Minister. He says one thing, then he’s sort of like bullied and forced into different positions by his own backbenchers. He’s not in control of his party, and his Government and the country can see we have a weak Prime Minister.”
She stated: “And the reality is, when it comes to all matters on the EU, he’s desperate to rejoin the EU club and that is his persona. And he was once shadow Brexit secretary and he was campaigning for another referendum, so he’s not put our national interests first at all.
“This is a political agenda that he is trying to pursue, and I can tell you it’s one that is going to be detrimental to our country and our economy.”
Pressing Ms Patel on Brexit under the Tories, Camilla argued: “If the Tories had done better at maximising Brexit opportunities, you wouldn’t have people in this country suffering with what’s known as Bre-grets?”
Dame Priti Patel told GB News Britons are aware that they have a ‘weak and feeble Prime Minister’
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GB NEWS
Ms Patel hit back: “I disagree with that, Camilla, because you’ve also got a Government that is lording up its ability to do free trade agreements around the world, and that is very much because of Brexit.
“So whether or not it’s with America, whether or not it’s with India, the fact that we can actually cooperate in different ways is exactly what Brexit is about.”
She concluded: “Yes, it takes time, but do not forget we have one of the biggest trade partnerships now with our friends in Asia Pacific countries and a region that really matters to our country.
“So that is absolutely Brexit working outside of our membership of the EU, able to do much more in terms of defence and security when it comes to obviously support.”