‘Armchair generals’ Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch uncovered after Iran flip-flopping
The shift in Reform and the Tories’ position on Iran has left them open to criticism – The Mirror looks back on the week that exposed the parties’ vulnerabilities on foreign policy
Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage have been under pressure over their position on the Iran conflict
If Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch were Prime Minister when the US and Israel bombed Iran, Britain would be a fortnight into a war.
That is the attack Keir Starmer has employed to challenge opposition leaders’ flip-flopping on the conflict in the Middle East.
In the week after the US-Israeli strikes began, Ms Badenoch relentlessly criticised the Prime Minister for holding back, while senior Reform figures backed British involvement in the conflict. But the Tories and Reform now appear to be back-pedalling.
The Conservatives’ confused position unravelled at a fractious briefing after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, where Ms Badenoch’s spokesman repeatedly stated “we are in the war” when asked whether the party wanted Britain to join the war. And Mr Farage performed a screeching U-turn on Tuesday, telling journalists: “Let’s not get involved in another foreign war.”
READ MORE: Flip-flopping Nigel Farage shifts Iran war stance as fears mount over bill hikes
This shift has left both parties open to criticism for “floundering” and acting as “armchair generals”. It has also opened up a new front for Labour, which is keen to expose the Reform’s weaknesses on foreign policy and the flaws in Ms Badenoch’s gung-ho stance.
The Mirror has seen a cross-party letter signed by more than a dozen of MPs who served in the armed forces calling on Ms Badenoch to apologise for saying the RAF is “just hanging around” in the Middle East. It builds on the outrage from Keir Starmer at PMQs on Wednesday, where he savaged the Tory leader over the “mother of all U-turns” on her stance on the conflict.
The letter – which attacks the Tory leader for suggesting British forces aren’t doing enough in the region – was spearheaded by former royal marine and Labour MP for Halesowen Alex Ballinger. The 15 signatories include Labour MPs Calvin Bailey, a former RAF wing commander, Helena Dollimore, an army reservist, and Bayo Alaba, a former Parachute Regiment soldier. Eight Liberal Democrat MPs have also put their name to the letter.
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“For it to be suggested that RAF pilots and ground crew are ‘just hanging around’ risks diminishing the work of the highly skilled men and women who are currently serving in demanding and dangerous conditions,” they write. “As MPs who have served in the military, we know the level of professionalism, preparation and discipline required of those deployed overseas.”
Labour MPs and officials have seized on the readiness of both parties to commit Britain to conflict. A Ministry of Defence source said: “These people have lost all credibility on national security. They’re armchair generals who can’t last a week in a crisis, and U-turn quicker than a weather vane. These politicians who think you can march into war one week and march out of it the next show that they simply can’t be trusted with Britain’s security.”
A Labour MP told us: “I thought it was embarrassing for both Kemi and Farage. I thought she was exposed as a total lightweight.” Another MP said: “You cannot go running into a war and put lives at risk without knowing what their purpose is, it’s not a bloody video game. Also if the Americans are willing to keep blowing things up anyway, why would we put our people at risk?”
The PM has previously been accused of cosying up to the US President, such as when Mr Trump was offered an unprecedented second state visit. But Mr Starmer’s response to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran delivered a clear message: Britain will not side with Mr Trump if it is not in the country’s best interests.
One Labour MP, describing Reform and the Tories’ initial stance, said: “They didn’t think for one second about the impact that this was going to have at home. They just wanted to come straight out and back Trump. They wanted to back Trump unquestioningly.”
Meanwhile, the Government’s position has won rare praise for the PM, whose leadership was plunged into peril only last month. Labour MP Graeme Downie said: “I think the PM dealt with it brilliantly. He had a very clear idea of what he was trying to achieve. He knew the diplomatic risks and he did the right thing. Reform and the Tories showed themselves to be unserious people.”
Another praised Mr Starmer, but warned things could turn very quickly. The MP said: “He has done the right thing, but what is positive this week can turn very quickly. If British service personnel or a British civilian is killed by an Iranian missile strike in the region, it will be very hard for him politically.”
Reform and the Tories have found themselves at odds with public opinion, as opposition to the US military action against Iran has risen by 10 points in the week since the conflict started, with opposition at 59%.
The spike in global oil and gas prices has also sparked fears over the economic hit to households and businesses from the conflict. As more than half of Brits (54%) put the cost of living as their top concern in January, this is likely to have panicked the right-wing parties.
It is not the first time Mr Farage has been appeared out of line with public sentiment, with his stance on the Ukraine war coming under scrutiny. He was criticised for suggesting the West provoked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has also said he would oppose British troops being deployed.
Uma Kumaran, who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Mirror: “Farage and Badenoch were desperate for Britain to mindlessly follow Trump and Netanyahu to war with Iran, no questions asked. They’ve now changed their tune faced with the wrath of the British public.
“If Farage or Badenoch had the keys to 10 Downing Street, Britain would have followed Trump and Netanyahu to war – no questions asked. British troops would have put their lives at risk – all for their leader to have changed their mind a few days later.
“Nigel Farage called Putin the world leader he most admired. He blamed Ukraine for being invaded by Russia. His top confidante took bribes from the Kremlin. And now he wants the British people to forget it all.”
Labour is now seizing on the clear vulnerabilities of their foreign policy stances. “Their flip flopping over Iran is serious and we’ll continue to expose the stark contrast there is between Keir Starmer’s calm-headed leadership on this issue and the naked opportunism we’ve seen from Reform and the Tories,” a Labour source told The Mirror.
“There isn’t a more serious decision a Prime Minister can take on behalf of the British people as to whether to send our brave troops to war.”
Letter to Tory shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge in full:
Dear James,
We are writing as Members of Parliament from across the House who have served in the Armed Forces to express our concern about recent comments made by Kemi Badenoch regarding RAF personnel deployed in the Middle East.
Our Armed Forces have shown extraordinary professionalism and dedication. They are protecting British lives and British interests in the Middle East during a period of serious regional tension.
British forces are working round the clock to protect British lives and British interests.
For it to be suggested that RAF pilots and ground crew are “just hanging around” risks diminishing the work of the highly skilled men and women who are currently serving in demanding and dangerous conditions.
As MPs who have served in the military, we know the level of professionalism, preparation and discipline required of those deployed overseas. Our Armed Forces deserve the clear and united support of Parliament, particularly when they are operating in such challenging circumstances.
We therefore ask you to encourage Ms Badenoch to do the right thing and withdraw these remarks and apologise for the offence caused.
If she does not, we hope you will take the opportunity to make clear that you disagree with those comments and that you recognise the professionalism and dedication of the RAF personnel currently deployed in the region.
Yours sincerely,
Alex Ballinger MP
Labour MP for Halesowen
Co-Signatories
Bayo Alaba, Labour MP
Calvin Bailey, Labour MP
Chris Coghlan, Lib Dem MP
Helena Dollimore, Labour MP
Richard Foord, Lib Dem MP
Paul Foster, Labour MP
Angus MacDonald, Lib Dem MP
Helen Maguire, Lib Dem MP
Mike Martin, Lib Dem MP
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Labour MP
Ian Roome, Lib Dem MP
Jamie Stone, Lib Dem MP
Will Stone, Labour MP
Cameron Thomas, Lib Dem MP
