Keir Starmer to deal with the nation TODAY as conflict ship heads to the Middle East

The Type 45 destroyer left Portsmouth for the eastern Mediterranean after six weeks of preparation was completed in just six days in response to escalating Middle East tensions

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer will address the nation today . . . during his weekly Prime Minister’s Questions.

Starmer will take to the dispatch box at midday to face some tough questions from across the political divide just hours after it was confirmed that Royal Navy vessel HMS Dragon was making its way towards the eastern Mediterranean, a week following the announcement of its deployment.

The Type 45 destroyer possesses the capability to intercept drones and ballistic missiles launched by Iran and its allies as the Middle East crisis persists. The ship’s crew were spotted lining the deck whilst the vessel departed Portsmouth Harbour.

Officials emphasised the ship had been readied as swiftly as possible for deployment, with six weeks’ worth of preparation compressed into six days.

The announcement of the ship’s deployment followed a drone strike which targeted the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus. HMS Dragon, which carries a crew of approximately 200, can launch eight Sea Viper missiles within 10 seconds to eliminate airborne threats.

Its commanding officer, Commander Iain Giffin, stated: “We are trained for this, we are ready for this, we have the equipment and people, we have the support of the British people and, most importantly, our families and friends.”

Defence Secretary John Healey commended the naval personnel and civilian teams who “worked flat out” to ready HMS Dragon for deployment, adding: “What is normally six weeks of work was completed in just six days – a remarkable effort delivered around the clock. They are the very best of Britain in action.”

However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch remarked: “After two weeks of Keir Starmer’s dithering, HMS Dragon is finally leaving port. I wish our brave servicemen and women a safe deployment.”

The departure of HMS Dragon followed the Ministry of Defence’s confirmation that a second British ship was being readied for potential deployment.

The landing ship RFA Lyme Bay, equipped with aviation and medical facilities, stands ready to assist if the crisis continues to escalate and an evacuation from Lebanon becomes necessary, where Israel has been targeting Iran’s Hezbollah allies.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated: “As part of prudent planning, we have taken the decision to bring RFA Lyme Bay to heightened readiness as a precaution, should she be needed to assist in maritime tasks in the eastern Mediterranean.”

Markets stabilised after US President Donald Trump indicated the military action would be a “short-term excursion” rather than a more extended war and threatened “death, fire and fury” against Iran unless vessels were permitted through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime oil and gas route.

However, unease surrounding the potential impact of increased energy costs persisted.

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