Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has robustly hit back at demands for an apology following her controversial remarks that Royal Air Force jets are "just hanging around" in the Middle East. The Tory leader insisted her criticism was directed squarely at the government, not the armed forces, and accused ministers of using military personnel as a "human shield" to deflect scrutiny.
Defence Secretary's Rebuke and Badenoch's Response
Mrs Badenoch made the original comments during a BBC Breakfast interview, where she questioned the effectiveness of Britain's military response to the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran. She argued that RAF jets should be targeting the source of Iranian attacks rather than merely intercepting drones launched by Tehran and its allies at British bases.
"What else are our jets doing, just hanging around there?" she told the broadcaster, adding that British forces should be doing more than "catching arrows." Defence Secretary John Healey swiftly rebuked her, suggesting the statement insulted serving military personnel.
However, speaking during a crime-related visit to Purley, near Croydon, on Tuesday, Mrs Badenoch refused to retract her words. "I've been asked this several times," she told the Press Association. "I was criticising the Government, that they are not doing enough, and they are the ones hanging around."
Comparisons with European Allies
The Conservative leader pointed to what she described as sluggish British deployments compared to European allies. She highlighted that HMS Dragon, a Type 45 warship bound for Cyprus, remains in Portsmouth over a week after its scheduled departure, while France has sent approximately ten ships to the Mediterranean.
"The French president is in Cyprus," Mrs Badenoch noted, referencing Emmanuel Macron's visit to the eastern Mediterranean island on Monday as European nations rally to bolster Cypriot defences. Spain, Italy, and Greece have also pledged military support for Cyprus, where Britain maintains a strategic base.
Although extra fighter jets have been dispatched to the region, the delay in deploying HMS Dragon has drawn Mrs Badenoch's ire. "We are the ones who have a base in Cyprus. What is our Prime Minister doing?" she questioned.
Accusations of Using Soldiers as a 'Human Shield'
Mrs Badenoch escalated her criticism by accusing the government of exploiting the military for political protection. "And instead, what he's trying to do is use the soldiers as a human shield so that he's not being criticised. I think that's absolutely disgusting," she stated.
She argued that by conflating her critique of government policy with an attack on the armed forces, ministers demonstrate a lack of genuine concern for resolving the situation. "The Prime Minister knows that I'm criticising him and his actions, and claiming that it's the military that are being criticised when it's them (the Government) means that they actually do not care about getting this right," Mrs Badenoch asserted. "All they care about is covering themselves and I think that that is a disgrace."
Focus on British Servicemen and Women
Earlier in the day, Mrs Badenoch emphasised her support for troops, distinguishing her position from the government's approach. "What I'm supporting are our troops," she told broadcasters. "The war in Iran is one that was started by the US and Israel, but our bases have been attacked."
She expressed particular concern for British servicemen and women stationed in bases such as those in Bahrain and Cyprus, claiming, "I'm the only person who's speaking out for them right now."
Crime Policy Announcements
During her visit to Purley, Mrs Badenoch also addressed domestic policy, outlining Conservative plans to combat crime. She voiced support for expanding live facial recognition technology in crime hotspots and pledged to recruit an additional 10,000 police officers to strengthen law enforcement efforts across the country.
The dual focus on defence and crime underscores the Conservative leader's attempt to position her party as robust on both national security and public safety, even as she faces backlash over her military comments.
