The leader of the Conservative Party is facing calls to apologise after she suggested the UK military are “just hanging around” rather than taking the necessary action in the Middle East.
Kemi Badenoch 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.
On Saturday, the leader of the Opposition said she was “not going to apologise” for criticising the government’s refusal to order the RAF to target Iranian missile launchers, rather than intercepting rockets and drones once they’re in the air.
While she didn’t directly refer to her “hanging around” remark, she hit out at Mr Healey, saying she would never criticise British troops or service personnel.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s spring conference in Harrogate, Ms Badenoch said: “I think that it is a disgrace that rather than get a grip and get HMS Dragon out of Portsmouth, our defence secretary is busy criticising me and trying to make it look like I’m criticising our troops. I would never do that.”
Ms Badenoch originally…
