𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

In moments such as these, responsible governments do not sit on their hands. They prepare. Yet what did our Prime Minister do? He refused to allow the Americans to use UK bases to conduct those strikes – a decision he is entitled to make. But decisions have consequences.

If you choose to distance Britain from allied action, you must at the very least ensure that our own defences are fully primed. That is the first duty of any government – to protect its people and its territory.

Did he send British warships to the Eastern Mediterranean as a precaution? In particular, did he send the Royal Navy’s Type 45 Destroyers that can strengthen our air defences in the vicinity of RAF Akrotiri?

France has announced it will send its aircraft carrier and a frigate. American assets are, of course, already engaged. One of our most strategically important military bases is under threat – and other nations are taking the lead to defend it.

We now hear that the Government is “considering” sending HMS Duncan to the region. Considering? She must go – and go now.

Indeed, this raises an obvious question: why was she not there already? When tensions were clearly rising, why were we not visibly reinforcing our own position?

The British public expect their country to defend itself when under attack. They understand alliances, they value partnership. But they also know that sovereignty carries responsibilities.

So far, the only decisive action this Prime Minister appears willing to take is to allow the United States to do the heavy lifting, while he carps from the sidelines.

He has acknowledged that Iranian missile sites pose a direct threat to our bases and our people. Yet he will not authorise UK strikes on those facilities – even though it would self-evidently be an act of self-defence. That is not prudence. It is paralysis.