David Lammy was mocked last night for urging people to stomp their feet in a show of support for Ukraine.
His ‘Make Noise for Ukraine’ campaign has been launched despite Kyiv remaining desperately short of military equipment in its war with Russia.
So while Ukrainian commanders are forced to ration artillery shells, Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy’s focus appeared to be on hashtags and social media posts.
The promotion also calls on UK military personnel to beep car horns and bang pots together, supposedly to send a morale-boosting message to Ukraine.
But senior British defence figures said clips uploaded on to X and Facebook were no substitute for weapons, including the UK’s deadly Storm Shadow missiles.
David Lammy’s ‘Make Noise for Ukraine’ campaign has been launched despite Kyiv remaining desperately short of military equipment in its war with Russia
Kyiv remains unable to use the long-range weapons after a dispute between the UK and US over whether their involvement would be an escalation of the conflict
Senior British defence figures said clips uploaded on to X and Facebook were no substitute for weapons, including the UK’s deadly Storm Shadow missiles (pictured: A fuel tank explodes in depot inferno in Russia)
Kyiv remains unable to use the long-range weapons after a dispute between the UK and US over whether their involvement would be an escalation of the conflict.
In a letter to government colleagues, Mr Lammy urged troops and members of the emergency services to record themselves showing support for Ukraine.
Soldiers were told to ‘make some noise like playing an instrument, singing, chanting, clapping, stomping your feet or honking your car horn’.
In an official Ministry of Defence promotional video, shared on X, catering staff were seen banging cooking pots with stainless steel spoons.
Health workers have been told to ‘show ambulance sirens blaring’ while Home Office officials are expected to post videos of ‘police dogs barking’.
Former British Army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: ‘I’m sure Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky would appreciate more weapons much more than more videos.
‘I trust the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary are putting as much effort into these endeavours as they are uploading footage onto social media. Clips on TikTok aren’t going to do anything for the Ukrainians… fighting on the front line.’
The superficial nature of the ‘#MakeNoiseForUkraine’ campaign was also highlighted online.
Mr Zelensky (pictured) claimed this week the UK’s leadership internationally on Ukraine had ‘slowed down’
Former British Army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: ‘I’m sure Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky would appreciate more weapons much more than more videos (pictured: Ukrainian soldiers take part in a casualty simulation training exercise operated by Britain’s armed forces, as part of the Interflex programme)
One poster on X said it ‘smacks of clapping for the NHS when what they really needed was more protective equipment’.
Another said Britain risked becoming a ‘laughing stock’ with Russians if it persists with such ‘weak platitudes’.
Mr Zelensky claimed this week the UK’s leadership internationally on Ukraine had ‘slowed down’.
But ex-defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio: ‘I don’t recognise that characterisation.’