Labour to appoint 'anti-Muslim hostility tsar' alongside new definition of Islamophobia

Keir Starmer's inaction on Iran branded Britain's 'worst national humiliation' by Tory peer - 'Disgraceful!'

Sir Keir Starmer's perceived inaction on the escalating Iran conflict has been branded Britain's "worst national humiliation" since the Suez crisis of 1956.

Speaking to GB News, Conservative Peer Lord Daniel Hannan hit out at the Prime Minister for his "disgraceful" reliance on "anti-British" international law.

At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister made clear that the "long-standing British position" is the "best way forward for the region and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran", where they "give up their nuclear ambitions".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Labour officials in London issue 'political earthquake' warning over rise of Greens

Labour campaigners in London have issued a dire warning to Sir Keir Starmer over the rise of the Greens, suggesting Zack Polanski's party will cause a "political earthquake."

Officials have been privately circulating new data that suggests Sir Keir Starmer's party could plummet from first to fourth place in London in the May elections.

The data suggests Labour could lose flagship authorities, including Hackney and Lambeth, to the Green Party, reports The Guardian.

According to the data, Zack Polanski's party could also take Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Greenwich, as well as Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow and Brent, if they were to run candidates in every ward.

Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives would go up from five councils to six, gaining Barnet with Reform winning Barking and Dagenham.

However, Nigel Farage’s party would win 132 seats across London and be the largest party in Havering.

A Labour source told The Guardian: "A slow handclap for those self-appointed strategic geniuses who ridicule Labour values and think we can afford to sacrifice our core vote by mimicking the performative cruelty of Suella Braverman.

"The dead end of McSweeney-ism must be abandoned before it’s too late.

"When Labour focuses on the cost of living we can start to win back the progressive defectors we’ve lost and unite the coalition we need."

John Healey demands Kemi Badenoch apologise over military comments

Kemi Badenoch is facing demands from Defence Secretary John Healey to apologise after she suggested UK military personnel are “just hanging around” and not taking the necessary action in the Middle East.

The Conservative Leader said there was a need to reduce the capability of Iran to attack British bases, adding that the UK is currently just "catching arrows."

Defence Secretary John Healey said her comments "insults the men and women of our Armed Forces" and that she should apologise.

Ms Badenoch said there needed to be an effort to stop missiles, adding that that is what air defence destroyer HMS Dragon, not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week, would be for.

She told the BBC: "They’re not doing enough… What they’re doing is catching arrows. It’s not working. We need to actually make sure our bases aren’t being hit."

Pressed on whether she supported firing on Iranian missile bases, she said she did, adding: “What else are our jets doing, just hanging around there?"

In response, Mr Healey said: "I was on the ground in our British base in Cyprus yesterday. I saw how our British forces are working round the clock, in the face of repeated air raid sirens, to protect British lives and British interests.

"To suggest they’re just hanging around' to score political points insults the men and women of our Armed Forces. She should apologise and withdraw her comments."

Top aide to New York Mayor met with Labour MPs

A senior aide to Mayor of New York Zohran Mamdani met with two Labour MPs and other "local progressive politicians."

Morris Katz, a top adviser to Mr Mamdani who was seen as an "architect" of the Democrat's election victory, met with Kettering MP Rosie Wrighting and Glasgow South MP Gordon McKee.

Mr Katz told Politico both Labour and Green Party operatives initiated contact and asked him to come over for the meetings.

Zack Polanski refuses to condemn 'appalling desecration' of Winston Churchill statue

Zack Polanski has refused to condemn the "appalling desecration" of the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster.

The Green Party leader voted against a motion to censure the graffiti during a session of the London Assembly on Thursday.

The motion, introduced by the Conservatives, read: "This assembly wishes to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the appalling desecration of the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square."

It went on to state that the assembly condemns the language graffitied on the statue of the wartime Prime Minister.

Our reporter Peter Stevens has the full story here.

Keir Starmer accused of being 'crushingly naive' after calling for a 'diplomatic' de-escalation in Iran

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of being "delusional" in his stance on the Iran conflict after calling for a "diplomatic" de-escalation.

Speaking to GB News, former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis criticised the Prime Minister for being "crushingly naive" in his approach to defending Britain in the war.

At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister made clear that the "long-standing British position" is the "best way forward for the region and the world is a negotiated settlement with Iran", where they "give up their nuclear ambitions".

He said: "That’s why I took the decision that the UK would not join the initial strikes on Iran by the US and Israel. That decision was deliberate, it was in the national interest, and I stand by it."

READ MORE HERE

House of Lords peer announces retirement after damning report

Tory peer Lord Chadlington said he will retire from the House of Lords and quit the Conservatives after a report recommended he should be suspended from the upper chamber for 12 months over a Covid-era PPE deal.

The House of Lords Commissioner for Standards found the peer breached the code of conduct over his role in assisting a subsidiary of a company called SGHL, of which he was non-executive chairman and a shareholder, to secure PPE contracts.

The Lords Conduct Committee rejected an appeal from the peer and recommended he should be suspended for a year.

In response, Lord Chadlington said: “I wholly reject the findings of this appeal and of the commissioner, published today".

He said: “Although the committee have acknowledged that I did not act dishonestly, it is important that I make clear that I never profited from an introduction, properly made with honourable intent, at a time of unprecedented national crisis.

“Any errors that I did make were honest. I have apologised for them and I do so again today.

“For more than three years, since reaching 80, I have discussed retiring with House officials but did not wish to do so while these investigations were ongoing.

“I have now decided, having proudly served as a peer for 30 years, that the time is right for me to retire and resign my membership of the Conservative Party".

Second charter flight to repatriate Britons from Oman has departed

The Foreign Office have confirmed a second charter flight bringing stranded Britons back from Oman has taken off.

Further flights are expected in the coming days and more than 160,000 British nationals have now registered their presence with the Foreign Office in the region.

British Airways is also putting on daily commercial flights from Muscat to help meet demand for those wishing to leave, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Nigel Farage to meet Donald Trump tonight as row with Keir Starmer leaves Chagos deal on the brink

Nigel Farage is set to meet Donald Trump on Friday amid the US President’s row with Keir Starmer, which has left Britain’s Chagos Islands "surrender" deal hanging by a thread.

Speaking at Guido Fawkes’ Save Chagos Boat Party, the Reform UK leader said he would hold talks with the President at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Mr Farage told the gathering: "We think this is the central plan for this Government's foreign policy and we are beating them back.

"President Trump has almost understood the deal, but I will be dining at Mar-a-Lago tomorrow night and we will reinforce the message."

READ MORE HERE

Scotland's Reform UK leader to contest Greenock and Inverclyde seat in May elections, amid party's nationwide takeover

Malcolm Offord, multimillionaire leader of Reform UK in Scotland, has confirmed he will contest the Scottish parliament seat of Greenock and Inverclyde in May’s Scottish parliament elections.

A competition yachtsman and a former Conservative peer and junior minister, Offord said he was born in Greenock, the largest town in the seat, and believed it was a microcosm of Scotland and of the problems Reform UK wanted to tackle.

“Obviously, it’s my hometown, but also because in a way Inverclyde is almost like a microcosm of Scotland and the issues we need to deal with in Scotland as a whole, we need to deal with in Inverclyde,” Offord told reporters in Greenock on Friday morning.

The seat is currently held by Stewart McMillan for the Scottish National party with an 8,174 vote majority.

Green Party memberships soars by more than 15,000 in week since earthshattering by-election victory in Labour stronghold

The Green Party has today announced that their membership has grown by more than 2,000 a day, over 15,000 in a week, since their historic by-election victory in Gorton and Denton, going from 200,000 members to over 215,000.

The increase in membership comes off the back of a good week for the party, where in a YouGov poll earlier this week, the party overtook Labour, only two points off Reform UK.

PM liaises with newly appointed Dutch Prime Minister, condemning Middle east conflict

Sir Keir Starmer spoke to the newly appointed Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, yesterday.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "He congratulated him on his appointment, and both leaders agreed they were looking forward to working together closely.

"They condemned Iran’s reckless ongoing attacks in the Middle East and agreed that European partners must continue to coordinate closely to provide defensive support to allies in the region.

“The Prime Minister set out he was focused on sending additional military capabilities to the region in the coming days and would continue to respond to requests for support from regional partners.

“They agreed to stay in close contact".

PM agrees on 'intensive diplomacy and close military coordination' with leaders of France, Germany and Italy

The Prime Minister spoke to the leaders of France, Germany and Italy this morning about the situation in the Middle East.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The leaders began by condemning Iran’s egregious attacks and the Prime Minister updated on the defensive measures taken by the UK in recent days to protect and reinforce partners in the region.

“Ongoing intensive diplomacy and close military coordination would be vital in the coming hours and days, the leaders agreed.

“They also agreed on the need to coordinate closely on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated their concern about the situation in Lebanon.

“The leaders welcomed the word leading drone interception expertise President Zelenskyy had offered to partners in the region and underlined the importance of ensuring support to Ukraine continued at scale.

“The Prime Minister updated on UK efforts to support the departure of British nationals wanting to leave the Middle East through commercial and charter flights.

“They agreed to stay in close contact.”

 New Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero appointed

The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Jonathan Brearley as the new Permanent Secretary at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Jonathan is currently CEO of the UK’s independent energy regulator Ofgem, and has decades of leadership experience in Government and the energy sector, having led the development of the Climate Change Act as the Head of Office of Climate Change.

He replaces Clive Maxwell who has served as Interim Permanent Secretary while a full external recruitment process was run.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband said: "Jonathan has spent his career driving for Britain’s energy security and is a deeply experienced, dedicated and imaginative public servant.

"As we continue to deliver our clean energy mission to bring down energy bills for families and take back control of our energy with clean homegrown power, I am delighted to welcome Jonathan to lead the department.

"I also want to thank Clive Maxwell for his excellent leadership as Interim Permanent Secretary over recent months. I have really valued his counsel and drive, and he has played a critical role in major successes for the department, from AR7 to the warm homes plan".

Lord Mandelson no longer on bail, released under investigation

Peter Mandelson is no longer on bail, and has been released under investigation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released under investigation. The investigation remains ongoing".

Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 23, after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle passed information suggesting Lord Mandelson was a flight risk.

He was released on bail in the early hours of the following morning.

Lord Mandelson's lawyers called the claim a "baseless suggestion," saying he had already agreed to attend a voluntary interview.

He denies any wrongdoing.

PM allocates Typhoon jets to Bahrain to 'bolster security' amid Middle East conflict

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the king of Bahrain that the four Typhoon jets the UK is deploying to Qatar could be used to help defend the kingdom from Iranian missile and drone strikes against Gulf states, Downing Street has confirmed.

"The Prime Minister also offered further defensive air cover from these jets for Bahrain to bolster their security," Sir Keir told Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in a call late on Thursday.

"His majesty welcomed the confirmation, and they agreed operational teams would work together on plans in the coming days".

Emily Thornberry slams Labour's trans policy for 'ending up in the wrong place'

Senior Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry has slammed her party's trans policy, saying that they had “ended up in the wrong place”.

The Islington South and Finsbury MP, who also chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said there had been “social conservatism” promoted in Labour.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, she said: “I think that we have been trying to be something that we’re not, and I don’t think that we need to do that.

“I think that he was trying to push us into a place that didn’t come naturally to us, and therefore people didn’t follow their instincts so much.

"I think some of this social conservatism that was being promoted did not come naturally to us. We are not a socially conservative party.

“I dread even saying this, but I think that we’ve ended up in the wrong place on trans, and we’ve done that by treading very self-consciously and not actually following our hearts, which is that trans people are on the margins, they are vulnerable.

“If the Labour Party doesn’t look after trans people, what are we about?"

“They’re most likely to get beaten up. They’re the ones who are most likely to have prejudice against them. We should not be indulging in anything that marginalises them even more."

'Get a grip!' - Keir Starmer blasted by Kemi Badenoch for 'relying on US' to defend UK

Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to "get a grip" and "stop relying on the US" to defend the UK, as the Iran conflict continues to escalate.

Speaking to GB News, the leader of the Conservatives launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of "running scared" from his backbench MPs.

In a press conference to the nation on Thursday, Sir Keir defended his speed in deploying assets to Cyprus after an attack on RAF Akrotiri.

Questioned by GB News on why HMS Dragon remains in Portsmouth, Sir Keir said: "We started redeploying in January and February assets to the region to make sure that we had the capability that we needed there.

READ MORE HERE

No10 denies U-turn on Middle East stance despite Deputy PM's comments UK could legally strike Iran

Downing Street has rejected that David Lammy’s comments represent a change in position after the Deputy Prime Minister said it would be legal for RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites which could target Britons.

Asked if this was a U-turn, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said “no”.

He referred back to the legal advice published by the Government and the Defence Secretary’s comments that the focus is on “defensive action”.

Asked if that advice meant the UK could strike targets in Iran that have the capability to strike British targets, he said: “We have consistently said that we’ll take the necessary steps to prevent future strikes, as we’ve set out over the course of the week, is allowing the US to take out those missiles at source whilst we are defending the skies.

“That is a consistent position that we have conveyed throughout the week".

Government continue pledge to repatriate British nationals from Middle East

A second Government charter flight to bring UK nationals back from the Middle East is due to depart Oman this evening, Downing Street has confirmed.

Further flights are expected in the coming days and more than 160,000 British nationals have now registered their presence with the Foreign Office in the region.

British Airways is also putting on daily commercial flights from Muscat to help meet demand for those wishing to leave, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

'Slippery slope to full conflict' warns Lib Dems after Deputy PM's comments

The Liberal Democrats have called for Downing Street to clarify whether it has changed its position after David Lammy said RAF jets could legally strike Iranian missile sites being used to attack British interests in the Middle East.

Calum Miller, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, said: “The Deputy Prime Minister is sliding down the slippery slope to full conflict by backing direct UK strikes on military positions in Iran.

“We need an urgent clarification from No10 on whether this is a change in Britain’s position on involvement in Trump’s illegal war.

“Another Labour government cannot be allowed to pull the wool over the public’s eyes as it follows America into an overseas war with unclear goals".

They said any offensive action must be approved by a vote in Parliament.

“We must not copy Trump’s unconstitutional and illegal approach to war in the Middle East".

Whip restored to Labour MP who rebelled against inheritance tax plan for farmers

A Labour MP who was suspended after rebelling against the Government over its plans for inheritance tax on farmers - which it later reversed - has had the whip restored.

Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds has restored the whip to Markus Campbell-Savours, it is understood.

The Penrith and Solway MP voted against the Government in a budget vote in early December.

The Government had planned to impose inheritance tax on farmers’ business assets after the first £1 million, but raised the tax-free threshold to £2.5 million in a U-turn just before Christmas.

Mr Campbell-Savours said in January that it had caused “unnecessary pain” for MPs to be instructed to vote in favour of keeping the agricultural and business property relief levels at the same rate, only for a change to be announced soon after.

Home Secretary says security services 'won't hesitate to take action' as four alleged Iranian spies arrested

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said the police and security services “won’t hesitate to take action” after four men were arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran.

Posting on X, she said: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they’ve taken today to keep Britain safe from a potential threat.

“The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by today’s arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected.

“I can reassure you that our police and security services are world leading and won’t hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the UK.

“They will continue to use the full range of tools and powers available to them to keep this country safe. They have the government’s full support as they carry out their vital work.

“We must now give them the time and space to continue their investigations".

David Lammy blunder as Deputy PM incorrectly says Cyprus is in Nato

The Deputy Prime Minister made an awkward blunder on air today as he incorrectly described Cyprus as a member of Nato.

The discussion comes as the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, has suffered several attacks from Iranian drones since the conflict in the Middle East began on Saturday.

The Government is set to deploy type-45 warship HMS Dragon to the region to support the UK's allies as the conflict breaks one week, alongside four Typhoon jets as announced by the PM yesterday.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, David Lammy, said: "We will do everything we can to protect our airbase, to protect out staff and people, but also alongside out allies because Cyprus is part of Nato".

PM 'must put national security first', says Shadow Foreign Secretary

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel described the arrest of four alleged Iranian spies today as "a stark reminder of the serious threat the Iranian regime poses on British soil".

She said: "The alleged attempts to spy on the British Jewish community highlight the foul antisemitism at the heart of the fundamentalist regime in Tehran.

“Having dithered over taking action against Iran’s murderous regime and undermined our relationships with our allies, Keir Starmer must show he will put the national security of Britain first and end the scourge of Iranian espionage in our country".

Government accused of 'not taking Iran threat seriously'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it is grateful to police “for foiling this alleged plot” as four alleged Iranian spies were arrested today, but accused the UK Government of not taking the threat from Iran seriously.

A CAA spokesperson said: “The UK may not be acting against Iran, but Iran is acting against us. It is incredible that the Iranian threat, long recognised by British Jews and those paying attention, like the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, is still not being taken seriously by the Government.

“The Government’s failure to keep its promise to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - the main instrument that the Islamic Republic uses to foment antisemitic violence worldwide - has sent the message that support for the brutal Iranian regime and its Jew-hating and West-hating ideology is perfectly acceptable in Britain.

“We are grateful to the police for foiling this alleged plot, which underscores the reality in which the Jewish community lives. But the security services have to be lucky every time - the plotters only need to get lucky once.

“The Government must give the police the tools they need to tackle this peril and broadcast not weakness but the message that Britain stands against this menace".

David Lammy praises MI5 and counter-terrorism after arrest of four alleged Iranian spies

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy praised the work of MI5 and counter-terrorism police following the arrests of four men on suspicion of aiding Iran’s intelligence service by spying on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in London.

He told ITV: “Iran is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism globally and sadly, that is in effect in our own society as well.

“Our intelligence services and counter-terrorism police have thwarted lots of action over the last few years.

“This is now a live investigation, so I won’t comment on that any further, except to thank our security staff and police for continuing to keep our people safe and doing everything they can where people would cause us harm and individuals in our country harm".

'Sometimes you need get there first', says Kemi Badenoch on prospect of Iranian attacks on UK assets

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she would support Royal Air Force jets striking Iranian missile launch sites to get ahead of expected attacks on UK assets.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, she said: “That is the right thing to do. Otherwise, we are allowing our service personnel to be put in danger. We have to think about them.

“If this was a nuclear attack, God forbid, it would be too late".

She claimed it would be foolish to await an incoming attack, and that "sometimes you have to make sure that you get there first to stop their ability to hurt your citizens".

She said she would like to see a “de-escalation”, but said: “We are in this war whether we like it or not because we have put bases in other people’s countries and we need to protect them.

She said she is particularly worried the Government "looks afraid to do anything and just wants to sort of make it go away, and we need to be stronger than that".

Scottish Labour leader 'is his own man', says Wes Streeting amid calls for PM to stand down

Anas Sarwar “is his own man”, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said after the Scottish Labour leader’s calls for the Prime Minister to quit.

Mr Sarwar is the most senior Labour figure to push for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down - a call he made in a hastily-arranged press conference in Glasgow last month.

Despite rumblings at the time of a move to oust the Prime Minister, Sir Keir was backed by his Cabinet ministers.

Speaking to the Daily Record during a visit to Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr Streeting said: “I think it’s very clear Anas Sarwar is his own man. He says it as he sees it".

He added: “I wouldn’t say it was comfortable listening for us down in Westminster, but I do understand that we are 20 months into this Labour Government at UK level, we have made mistakes, we are not basking in the warm glow of popularity.

“I think it is important when people cast their votes in May that they remember the election is about who governs Scotland.

“It’s Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour that’s on the ballot paper. I do think there is a real opportunity to have a Scottish Labour government and a UK Labour Government working well together".

UK could legally strike Iran FIRST, says Deputy Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said it would be legal for RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites which could target Britons.

The Justice Secretary stressed that the current operations involved British planes shooting down missiles and drones which were already in the sky over allied nations.

But he indicated they could lawfully be used to hit targets within Iran to prevent the launch of attacks.

He told BBC Breakfast: “It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances.

“I’m not here to act as a lawyer, but I think your viewers will understand that in response to being attacked, yes, we can take down sites that are anticipating attacking our people across the region".

He said the UK had the satellite and intelligence capability to identify Iranian sites.

Asked if the UK could fire at an Iranian base in anticipation of it launching an attack, he said: “It is my understanding that that would be legal".

National Security Council leaks 'put British lives at risk', says David Lammy

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said there should be an investigation into leaks from a National Security Council meeting which revealed splits in the Cabinet over allowing the US to use British bases for strikes against Iran.

The Spectator reported that Sir Keir Starmer suggested allowing the US to use the bases to carry out defensive strikes against Iranian targets at a meeting last Friday, but was met with opposition from Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves, Yvette Cooper and Shabana Mahmood.

Permission to allow the bases to be used against Iran’s missile sites was only granted on Sunday after Tehran had launched a wave of retaliatory attacks against countries across the Middle East.

Mr Lammy told Sky News: “I don’t recognise those reports and I have to say I think it is a travesty that any anyone should report from a National Security Council, because of course it puts British lives at risk and I hope that is properly investigated".

Labour calls for probe into Reform's crypto donations: 'Serious questions to answer!'

Labour Party chair Anna Turley has written to the Electoral Commission after it was revealed Reform had secured a further £3million donation from Thai- based billionaire and ex-Tory benefactor Christopher Harborne ahead of the May local elections - where Nigel Farage's party is looking to win seats up and down Britain.

The donation followed £9million he gave to Reform last summer, among a flurry of donations in the back half of 2025 that saw the party acquire more funding than any other, with another £5.5million secured between October and December.

Ms Turley voiced concern that Reform UK hadn't declared the form of the donation, given that cryptocurrency donations above the threshold of £500 must be reported to the Electoral Commission as a non-cash donation.

She told The Independent: “Nigel Farage has serious questions to answer on crypto donations to Reform.

“After Farage said Reform would take crypto donations last May, and bragged about having received crypto cash in October, not a single donation has been declared. Farage needs to say why".

Ms Turley claimed it "raised alarming questions about transparency" and that the decision to write to the Electoral Commission was to ensure that the public can have confidence that "everything is above board" with Reform’s declarations.

David Lammy defends PM's response to Middle East crisis

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy insisted he was not embarrassed by the UK’s response to the Middle East crisis.

The UK has been criticised for failing to have air defence measures in place to sufficiently protect RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone.

Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon is not expected to sail to the eastern Mediterranean until next week.

Asked if he was embarrassed, Mr Lammy told Sky News: “Absolutely not - we have F-35s, Typhoons in the sky taking down missiles as we speak and that has happened over Jordan, it’s happened over Qatar and of course, we will support nationals in the region.

“It’s also right to say that we co-ordinate with allies, the French, the Germans. Cyprus is a Nato ally, so we coordinate also with other teams and other close allies on how we equip the area.

“HMS Dragon will be in the region in the coming weeks to further bolster and further support our air defences".