Rayner: UK agrees with Trump on stopping Iran getting nukes – but through diplomacy
At PMQs the deputy PM says govt will take decisions on Israel-Iran 'guided by the safety of British nationals and the UK national interest'
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said the government agrees with US President Donald Trump that “Iran must never have a nuclear weapon” but insisted the UK will continue to support diplomatic paths towards achieving this.
Speaking in the Commons during PMQs, Rayner also told MPs the British government would be “guided by the safety of British nationals and the UK national interest” with any decision related to the on-going conflict between Israel and Iran.
It followed a call from one MP for parliament to debate any further moves around UK military involvement in the Middle East.
Jewish News understands Keir Starmer will be chairing a COBRA meeting later on Wednesday at which developments in the Middle East will be central to the agenda.
Standing in for Prime Minister at PMQs, Rayner responded to a question from the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, who asked whether the Government would “blindly follow” the US into war with Iran if President Donald Trump launched strikes.
Rayner said: “The one thing I will say is we agree with President Trump that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, but we’ve been consistent in urging Iran to engage in the diplomatic process and work with the United States, and we continue to support that diplomatic approach.”
Cooper had said: “In 2003, we Liberal Democrats were incredibly proud to lead the campaign against the Iraq War, a war in which the UK blindly followed the US in a move which was not backed by the United Nations.
“In light of reports that President Trump is seriously considering joining the war between Israel and Iran, launching a US strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, can the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that, if President Trump does do this, that today’s Labour Government will not blindly follow the US into war again?”
Meanwhile Tory grandee Sir Edward Leigh compared the Palestinian people’s demand for a state of their own with that of the two thousand year long struggle of the Jewish people for an Israeli state.
Speaking at Wednesday’s PMQs, Leigh also called for the UK government to pressure Israel over West Bank settlements, saying the policy was fuelling radicalisation of Palestinians.
Later at a briefing for Westminster journalists, several questions raised the lack of clarity over the advice given to British nationals still stuck in Israel.
This followed a UK Foreign Office announcement that it has “temporarily withdrawn” family members of staff, both in the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem, in what it describes as a “precautionary measure”, but which has led to confusion as to whether British nationals are also being recommended to leave Israel.
The Foreign Office said the withdrawal was temporary and a “precautionary measure”, with staff remaining at both the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “Our embassy in Tel Aviv and consulate in Jerusalem remain fully staffed and continue to provide consular services to those who require assistance.”
But Downing Street would not say whether British nationals should attempt to leave the country. A Number 10 spokesman would only say that the Government’s “key message” was to “follow the advice of local authorities on staying close to shelter”.
Britons have already been advised against all travel to Israel, and those already in the country have been urged to register their presence with the embassy.
The Number 10 spokesman added: “This is a fast-moving situation. We are keeping all our advice under constant review and the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) continues to plan for a variety of developments, as you would expect.”
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