At yet another chaotic briefing after PMQs hacks were told that the FCDO has withdrawn family members of embassy staff from Israel as a “precautionary measure.” Nothing for British citizens on the ground…
They have been told to follow “local guidance” while UK government affiliates are jetted away. Starmer’s spokesman mentioned there were some buses going to Jordan but all travel is undergone at Brits’ own risk. A shambles…
There is a ministerial COBRA meeting in a few hours once Starmer lands back in the UK on the Iran/Israel situation. Not urgent enough to dial in?
Ultimately any evacuation will be up to Israel, whose government David Lammy and Labour have been studiously attacking for years. Netanyahu has made his opinion on Starmer known. The UK is a plan-taker here…
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”