Lord Cameron insists there is a purpose for the UN, despite Liz Truss claim

Foreign Secretary David Cameron has said he “can see a point for the United Nations”, after fellow former prime minister Liz Truss said she cannot see a purpose for the organisation.

Ms Truss said she would like to see the UN abolished, telling the BBC Newscast podcast: “I can’t see a purpose for the UN as it stands.”

“At present, it has been very ineffective at dealing with international situations, in fact positively damaging, for example, on Israel.”

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton responded in the House of Lords on Tuesday, acknowledging the “frustrations” of working with the UN.

He said: “I take the view that the United Nations has many problems and issues, and the frustrations of dealing with the Security Council at the moment, when you’ve got a Russian veto and a Chinese veto – these frustrations are very great.

“But nonetheless, it’s important we have an international body where issues can be discussed, where countries can come together.

“Good work is done through the United Nations, in spite of the frustrations, so I can see a point of the United Nations.”

The Foreign Secretary was responding to a question from Labour peer Lord Grocott, who asked: “Has he got a message to those of us who can’t see a purpose of Liz Truss?”

Lord Cameron did not comment on Ms Truss herself.