Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his support for British and American bombing raids in Yemen and denounced Iran for “sponsoring terrorism”.
In an article for The Independent, the Labour leader has defended his decision to offer strong support to Rishi Sunak for sending British forces into action against Houthi militants and acting in the “national interest”. He appeared to give the green light to further US and UK military action, saying “we must retain the flexibility to react with the necessary speed to threats”.
In a signal that he will not shirk from similar military action if he becomes prime minister, he warned “those who seek to damage Britain, to attack its interests and to threaten its people” that they should “be in no doubt as to the seriousness of our country’s resolve in response to their aggression”. But he repeated his call for the prime minister to explain his actions to MPs in parliament tomorrow.
He spoke out after being criticised by left-wingers close to Jeremy Corbyn for endorsing the bombing raids. Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who now sits as an Independent MP, accused Sir Keir of going back on a pledge in his leadership campaign against Mr Corbyn.
This story is from the January 14, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 14, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
South Africa find a spring in their step to dominate game
A captivating year saw lots of storylines including a thrilling sevens tournaments at the Paris Olympics, Antoine Dupont magic and a Springboks double, writes Harry Latham-Coyle
Lords of the ring walk
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk created history this year
Basque in the glow: Iraola the best-kept secret lifting Cherries to new heights.
A 42-year-old Spanish head coach from the Basque region making waves and earning admirers in the Premier League isn’t a unique position.
Even cold hard cash isn't enough for this spent force
Pep Guardiola has witnessed his empire start to fall as ‘forever football’ takes its toll, writes Miguel Delaney
The babies from the Boxing Day tsunami - 20 years on
The 2004 disaster left thousands without parents. Former travel agent Lynn Stanier explains how after volunteering she vowed to never stop helping the kids she met in Sri Lanka
Hundreds of Humvees left by US forces in Afghanistan
American and Nato troops abandoned military equipment worth more than $7.2bn, much of which is now in a state of disrepair in the Taliban’s hands, as Arpan Rai reports
The family who see saving Gaza's animals as 'our duty'
A heroic family-run animal sanctuary has defied the odds by working around the clock” to save hundreds of animals suffering in Gaza during a year of intense Israeli bombardment.
Nearly 40 dead as plane crashes in Kazakhstan
Children among 29 survivors of Russian-bound flight
Man arrested for attempted murder after four hit by car
A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day.
Britain's lost Atlantis: Stone Age artefacts on the seabed
Discovery reveals more on prehistoric land under North Sea
