Kemi Badenoch claimed British forces are 'just hanging around' in the Middle East, according to major media reports. She insisted she was supportive of Britain's armed forces but criticized the Government's response to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Badenoch said the Government was using the armed forces as a 'human shield' for criticism she directed at ministers.
She argued that British forces should be doing more than 'catching arrows' and that RAF jets should target the source of Iranian attacks. When asked on Tuesday, Kemi Badenoch would not apologize for her remark, stating, "I've been asked this several times. " Defence Secretary John Healey suggested Kemi Badenoch's remarks were an insult to serving military personnel.
I've been asked this several times. I was criticising the Government, that they are not doing enough, and they are the ones hanging around.
" She contrasted this with France, which has sent about 10 ships to the Mediterranean, and mentioned that French President Emmanuel Macron visited Cyprus on Monday. Spain, Italy, and Greece have pledged military support for Cyprus, while extra fighter jets have been sent to the Middle East region. The specific actions Badenoch believes the British government should take in response to the conflict remain unclear.
The current status and timeline for the deployment of HMS Dragon to Cyprus are also unknown.
HMS Dragon is still in Portsmouth well over a week after it should have left.