Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
View from Westminster email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Lord Cameron raised the prospect of further UK strikes against rebel Houthis in Yemen, warning that it is “incredibly important that they understand” Britain will follow words with action.
As Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on his backing for the government’s action over the Red Sea crisis, the foreign secretary opened the door to further attacks.
Ahead of a debate in parliament over the military strikes, the Labour leader said “doing nothing” while Houthi rebels attack cargo ships in the Red Sea was not an option.
Sir Keir and Lord Cameron put on a united front on Sunday, insisting Britain’s strikes in Yemen were necessary after weeks of escalating attacks on commercial vessels.
And Sir Keir said he would “listen carefully” to ministers about the need for any further targeted action.
RECOMMENDED
Houthi rebels won’t be stopped by a single raid – we must hit them again
Undo
What happens if the Houthi rebels fight back?
Undo
8days
Rebecca Lim shared very important news8days| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
CNN with Hong Kong Tourism Board
A Hidden Culinary Gem in Hong KongCNN with Hong Kong Tourism Board| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Cameron both stressed the need for military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/14/09/POLITICS%20Kuenssberg%20%2009113882.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/14/09/POLITICS%20Kuenssberg%20%2009113882.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/14/09/POLITICS%20Kuenssberg%20%2009113882.jpg" data-gallery-length="3" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content" pinger-seen="true">
Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Cameron both stressed the need for military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen
(PA)
The interventions came after days of strikes against rebel-controlled sites in Yemen, with the US launching a “follow-on action” against a Houthi radar site.
Promoted stories
The Business Times
Chinese billionaire is second-biggest foreign owner of US landThe Business Times
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
In the early hours of Friday morning, in response to weeks of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the strategically crucial Red Sea, US and UK warplanes, ships and submarines hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets.
The Hamas-backing Houthis claim they are only targeting vessels linked to Israel in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, because of the war in Gaza.
A spokesman for the Yemeni armed forces in the Houthi-controlled north of the country said the bombardment "will not go unanswered and unpunished". The spokesman added that strikes will not deter their support for Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza.
But Lord Cameron denied any link between the war in Gaza and the Red Sea attacks, telling Sky News the action was "completely separate".
And he went further, saying Britain is prepared to take further action in Yemen if attacks continue.
He said: “We have sent the clearest possible message to the Houthis that their behaviour is unacceptable, and we’ve demonstrated that we’re prepared to follow words and warnings with action.
“And that is incredibly important that they understand that.”
An RAF Voyager aircraft taking off from RAF Akrotiri to conduct strikes against military targets in Yemen
(Ministry of Defence/PA)
Writing in The Independent, Sir Keir had backed the government’s action in Yemen and denounced Iran for “sponsoring terrorism”.
He supported Rishi Sunak for sending British forces into action against Houthi militants and acting in the “national interest”.
And on Sunday morning, the Labour leader promised to “look at the case the government puts forward” for any further strikes.
He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg there needs to be a debate in parliament on Monday about the military operation that has taken place.
“I will have to listen carefully to whatever the government says about any further action that may be needed,” he said.
Lord Cameron hit back at critics, after thousands gathered across the country to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and rally against the strikes in Yemen, saying Britain needed to send “ a very unambiguous message that we are prepared to follow our words and warnings with actions”.
“not acting is also a policy, and it wasn’t working,” the foreign secretary said.
He described how ongoing attacks on commercial vessels since mid-November have been getting worse and more frequent.
Sir Keir agreed with Lord Cameron, saying: “I think it is important to look at what Houthis are doing in the Red Sea because those attacks were taking place, they were ramping up and escalating.
“And sitting back and simply doing nothing in that situation is not an appropriate way to respond.”
That comes despite criticism of the strikes from left-wingers close to Sir Keir’s predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who now sits as an Independent MP, accused Sir Keir of going back on a pledge in his leadership campaign against Mr Corbyn.
But Sir Keir has used the crisis as a way to distance himself from the disastrous leadership of Mr Corbyn, a staunch critic of Nato.
Sir Keir appeared to row back on yet another pledge made in the last Labour leadership contest, in which he was attempting to win over left-wing Labour members, to ensure parliament had consented to any UK military action.
Sir Keir said he had only meant that a parliamentary vote would be needed if the UK was putting “boots on the ground”.
Left-wing pressure group Momentum accused him of “serial duplicity”, calling instead for a policy of “peace and human rights”.
Sir Keir also appeared to row back on another commitment to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying only that Labour in government would “review the situation”.
More about keir starmer Houthi foreign secretary Red Sea Britain Yemen
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
13Comments
1/ 3Lord Cameron raises prospect of further UK strikes in Yemen
Lord Cameron raises prospect of further UK strikes in Yemen
Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Cameron both stressed the need for military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen
PA
Lord Cameron raises prospect of further UK strikes in Yemen
An RAF Voyager aircraft taking off from RAF Akrotiri to conduct strikes against military targets in Yemen
Ministry of Defence/PA
Lord Cameron raises prospect of further UK strikes in Yemen
PA
Promoted stories
Hair’s Rich
Watsons-bought "Japan's hair growth gel" worked so wellHair’s Rich| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Superfood Reviews
Do This Everyday to Ease Eczema Flare-UpsScientifically proven relief: Drink this daily to halt eczema flare-ups. Your skin's salvation is just a sip away.Superfood Reviews| Sponsored Sponsored
Shop Now
Undo
Body Design News
People who can't lose weight may not have tried "this"!Body Design News| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Read More Comments
Collapse Comments
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in