LABOUR is facing furious demands to get off the “moral fence” and give full-throated backing to Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran.
Britain’s stance on the escalating conflict was last night slammed as Foreign Secretary David Lammy refused to say if the US stealth raid on the Ayatollah’s nuclear bunkers was even legal.
The Cabinet minister said the UK would not hesitate to “defend our personnel” in case of attack — but urged the mad mullahs to “take the off-ramp” by entering into peace talks.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The prevention of Iran getting nuclear weapons is a good thing for this country.
“But our focus is on diplomacy.
“Iran should take the opportunity presented by the US to re-enter talks.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said ministers were parroting lines written by pacifist civil servants which were “designed to not upset anybody or give any views”.
She aimed fire at international law-obsessed Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer, blasting: “I do think it is quite extraordinary the position they found themselves in where the Foreign Secretary is unable to say whether or not he believes that action is lawful.”
And Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “The British public deserve to know if their government supports degrading the threat of Iran to us and our allies, or whether it is all too happy to sit on the moral fence.”
It came as Labour’s hard Left MPs urged for all military involvement to be ruled out.
Abtisam Mohamed said: “Will the Foreign Secretary provide reassurance that we will not enter an endless war fuelled by reckless provocateurs?”
REEVES FEAR ON ECONOMY
RACHEL Reeves is demanding a cooling of tensions in the Middle East amid fears British households will be hit by surging oil prices.
The Chancellor stressed any energy cost hike will have implications for our economy, especially if the vital Strait of Hormuz sea passage from the Gulf is closed.
The intervention came as US President Donald Trump called for cheaper oil prices, demanding a “drill, baby, drill” policy in America.
She said: “We want de-escalation because it’s the right thing for the Middle East, but we also want de-escalation because of the ramifications of conflict in the Middle East for the rest of the world, including the UK.”
Her warnings came as she launched the Government’s ten year industrial strategy at a factory in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
Oil prices hit a five-month high yesterday before falling back.
