Robert Jenrick accused Rachel Reeves of an “appalling lack of judgement” over her alleged links to a “fanatic who has repeatedly shown that he holds shocking views”.
It came as Reform’s Treasury spokesman gave a joint press conference this morning with Nigel Farage.
He said: “This is an appalling lack of judgement from Rachel Reeves. She has become very close to a local ‘community leader’ in Leeds in order to save her own political skin. But this man is a fanatic who has repeatedly shown that he holds shocking views.
“Reeves says she is this man’s friend, while he’s said he only votes for her if she does what he demands.
“This comes at a time of renewed concern about sectarian politics seeping into our national life. We don’t want foreign issues and sectarian politics to dictate what happens in our parliament. Reeves must answer for this and explain why she has become so close to this man.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “These abhorrent views are clearly not shared by the Chancellor. She was not aware of these allegations.”
UK ‘looking at all options to support our people’
Sir Keir Starmer said the situation on the ground “may remain challenging for some time” but the Government is “looking at all options to support our people”.
The Prime Minister told the Commons: “We’re asking all British citizens in the region to register their presence so we can provide the best possible support and to monitor the Home Office travel advice, which is being regularly updated.”
Starmer insists preventing Iran’s nuclear ambitions ‘will have to be achieved at negotiating table’
The aim of preventing the Iranian regime from getting their hands on nuclear weapons “will have to be achieved at the negotiating table”, Sir Keir Starmer said.
In a statement to the Commons, the Prime Minister said: “Be in no doubt, the regime in Iran is utterly abhorrent. In January, they murdered thousands of their own people. The full horror of which is still hidden from the world.
“For decades, they have sought to destabilise the region and export terror around the world. Their proxies in Yemen have targeted British ships in the Red Sea, they facilitated Russia‘s attacks in Ukraine.
“The regime’s tentacles have even reached these shores, posing a direct threat to Iranian dissidents and to the Jewish community.
“Over the last year alone, Iran has backed more than 20 potentially lethal attacks on UK soil, each of which we have foiled.
“So it’s clear the Iranian regime must never be allowed to get their hands on nuclear weapons. That remains the primary aim of the United Kingdom and our allies, including the US, and ultimately, this will have to be achieved at the negotiating table.”
UK not joining attacks by US and Israel
The UK is not joining the US and Israel in their attacks on Iran, the Prime Minister has said.
Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons: “It is simply not possible to shoot down every Iranian missile and every drone after they’ve been launched. The only way to stop the threat is to destroy the missiles at source, in their storage depots or at the launches.”
He said yesterday evening the US requested permission to use British bases “for that specific and limited defensive purpose”, which the Government accepted.
He added: “To be clear, the use of British bases is limited to the agreed defensive purposes; we are not joining the US and Israeli offensive strikes.
“The basis for our decision is the collective self-defence of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives.
“It is in accordance with international law, and we produced a summary of our legal advice, which clearly sets this out. We will keep the decision under review.”
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Starmer defends Iran decision
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his decision not to get involved in the initial strikes on Iran was in Britain’s national interest.
He told MPs in the Commons: “That decision was deliberate. We believe that the best way forward for the region and for the world is a negotiated settlement in which Iran agrees to give up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon, and ceases its destabilising activity across the region. That has been the long-standing position of successive British governments.
“President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest. That is what I’ve done, and I stand by it.”
He added: “But, it is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests, and our allies and it cannot be ignored.”
(Image: BBC)
Starmer gives Commons update
Sir Keir Starmer is now at the Despatch Box in the House of Commons as he gives an update on the Iran crisis.
New Green MP sworn in to Parliament
New Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has been sworn in to Parliament after her by-election victory last week.
Ms Spencer, who won the Gorton and Denton by-election, was accompanied by her party colleagues Ellie Chowns and former party co-leader leader Carla Denyer.
She was called forward by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle at the start of parliamentary business today.
Ms Spencer then took the religious oath, holding a bible, and swore allegiance to the King.
Badenoch warns Iran would attack UK if it had nuclear weapon
Kemi Badenoch has warned Iran would launch an attack on the UK if it developed a nuclear weapon.
She said: “I do not want to see a situation where we are sending British troops, people’s sons and daughters, to war when we are not clear what is going on.
“With Iran it is very, very clear what is going on and we can’t just bury our heads in the sand like ostriches and hope that if we just do nothing, the problem will go away.
“I do not want to see an Iran that has nukes because if they do have nukes, we will be nuked.
“That is very clear. That is what we need to explain to many people who may not understand the specifics of the situation of the details.
“We need to be honest about that. Sir Keir Starmer does not know what he believes. I know what I believe and I am able to say so.”
Badenoch accuses Starmer of ‘party political calculation’
Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of a “party political calculation” with his initial refusal to allow the UK-US Diego Garcia base to be used to target Iran.
Delivering a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank, the leader of the Opposition said British people “will be wondering why our country’s response has been so weak”.
She added: “The official explanation for the hesitancy is international law, but this is a fig leaf.
“The real explanation is not legal, it is political.
“Across the UK there are groups whose political loyalties when it comes to conflicts in the Middle East do not align with British national interests.
“These are people who Labour sees as their voters because without them, they cannot stay in power.
“This is not international law or principle, it is pure partisan political calculation from a Labour Party that has surrendered its right to govern our country, and it is the reality of decades of failed integration policy.”