Oral Answers to Questions

Fabian Hamilton Excerpts

Monday 20th May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Penny Mordaunt]

First, I thank the hon. Gentleman for his kind comments. I am sure he will continue his campaign on road traffic accidents and all that Britain can do to prevent them around the world.

I think that our armed forces are getting increasingly more capable, looking what we are doing in terms of operations. Increasingly, we are forward-deploying people. The Royal Navy is undertaking more activity. However, we must ensure that the budget, or what we are doing with the budget, is absolutely linked to the tasks that we require our armed forces to do because of the mission that we give them.

[Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) (Lab)]

Last week, the British deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve stated that

“there has been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria.”

He was then rebuked by US Central Command. The Foreign Secretary later went on to declare that the UK and the US share

“the same assessment of the heightened threat posed by Iran”,

and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed its travel advice for Iran. Will the Secretary of State clarify the Government’s position, and will she confirm that the UK will oppose any escalation of tensions in the middle east?

[Penny Mordaunt]

We want the increasing tensions to de-escalate. I think that the major general’s remarks have been clarified; he was speaking in a particular context. We are absolutely on the same page as the United States in terms of the assessment of risk, and we have always been clear-eyed about the threats that Iran poses.