Minister denies PM is ‘rattled’ after attack on Greens and Reform | Politics | News
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Munich Security Conference (Image: Getty)
Yvette Cooper has denied that the Prime Minister launched an attack on the Greens and Reform at a Munich conference because he is “rattled”.
The Foreign Secretary was grilled on what domestic UK politics had to do with the security audience for that speech in Germany.
Ms Cooper said on Sunday that the “wider issue” is that “having partnerships abroad… will make us stronger at home”.
She added: “The NATO alliance is really important to that, and we have seen both Reform and the Greens undermine that commitment to the NATO alliance.
Read more: Reform roasts ‘liar’ Starmer after PM suggests party would be ‘soft’ on Russia
“I think that is hugely important because I think our national security comes first, and taking seriously the threat from Russia, which they are not doing.”
She accused Reform UK of having “failed to do an investigation into Russian interference within their own party, despite the fact that their Welsh leader was convicted of the links”.
She claimed Reform UK has “dismissed the aggression and the threat from Russia”.
When asked by Sky News’ Trevor Phillips if it is actually a sign that the Prime Minister is “rattled” by domestic politics, and could signal that he is on his way out, Ms Cooper said: “I don’t think that’s the case at all.”
Speaking from the conference, she added: “The partnerships that Keir Starmer has built with other leaders, the work that we are doing together, is immensely important.
“That’s what I see here at the Munich Security Conference, is the respect towards the UK, towards the Prime Minister for the work that he’s done, the leadership he’s shown.”
While Sir Keir failed to mention either party by name in his remarks on Saturday, he appeared to make a dig at them by questioning their commitment to European security.
He said: “The peddlers of easy answers are ready on the extremes of left and right and they will offer their solutions instead. It’s striking that the different ends of the spectrum share so much. Soft on Russia, weak on Nato, if not outright opposed, and determined to sacrifice the relationships we need on the altar of their ideology.
“The future they offer is one of division and then capitulation. The lamps would go out across Europe once again.”
Reform UK’s head of policy Zia Yusuf hit back by saying it is “obviously not true” that Nigel Farage is “soft on Russia”, and a bit “pro-Putin”.
Put to him on by Mr Phillips’ programme that Sir Keir said – and the Foreign Secretary had reinforced – that Nigel Farage is “soft on Russia”, and a little “pro-Putin”, Mr Yusuf said: “That’s obviously not true.
“I mean, Nigel is the only political leader in this country who has confirmed on air that he would indeed shoot down Russian aircraft if they encroach into Nato airspace.
“Not a single other political leader said that, nor has Keir Starmer.”
