Dame Priti Patel has launched a blistering attack on Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the Labour leader of compromising Britain's national security and international standing for political survival.
Security Cooperation With Israel Undermined
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail during her three-day visit to Israel, the Shadow Foreign Secretary delivered a stark warning about deteriorating intelligence sharing with one of Britain's key allies. "When it comes to security and intelligence, that cooperation can never, ever be broken or undermined," Dame Priti stated emphatically.
She revealed that Labour's approach has severely strained the historically strong partnership between Britain and Israel, noting that "Israel is pivotal to our domestic security" and its role in regional stability directly affects British citizens.
Anti-Semitism Reaches Crisis Levels
The Conservative MP expressed deep concern about the surge in anti-Jewish sentiment across the UK, warning that British Jews are facing threats not seen since the Jeremy Corbyn era. Her comments come as Sir Keir pledged to keep Jewish people 'in my mind's eye' and address what he called the 'cultural issue' of anti-Semitism.
Dame Priti particularly criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan, alleging he had "allowed those vile, anti-Semitic hate marches to get out of hand" through weekend-after-weekend facilitation. She accused the Mayor of destroying London's reputation as a safe city, especially for the Jewish community.
Concrete Consequences of Policy Shifts
The deterioration in UK-Israel relations began when Labour first suspended arms licences during Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza, followed by moves to recognise a Palestinian state. Critics argue these actions have diminished British influence, with Israel no longer viewing Britain as a strategic partner.
Dame Priti highlighted several concerning developments:
- The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending a match against Aston Villa this month, which she called "a humiliation for Britain"
- Reports that West Midlands Police used "factually incorrect evidence" to justify the ban
- Growing security fears following last month's Manchester synagogue terror attack that killed two people
The Shadow Foreign Secretary delivered a final warning to Labour: "They need to take a hard look at themselves, because of the jeopardy they bring to the British people, our country, our security, international standing and reputation."
Her comments reflect mounting Conservative concerns that Labour is prioritising party activists over national security interests, potentially leaving Britain more vulnerable to security threats while failing to protect Jewish communities from rising anti-Semitism.
