Starmer urges Iran and Israel to 'step back' after strikes targeting Tehran
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged restraint following Israeli strikes targeting Iran's nuclear programme.Fears of a full-scale conflict have been stoked by warnings of "severe punishment" from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reports of drone launches in response.A Cobra meeting is expected early this afternoon to discuss the UK response to the emergency situation.Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also cancelled a planned trip to Washington DC to meet his his counterpart Marco Rubio, although there is no plan for a ministerial statement in the House of Commons.
UK officials said the UK did not play any part in the action overnight but is continuing to monitor the situation.The prime minister said: "The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently. "Escalation serves no-one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. "Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy."Posting on X, Lammy also stressed stability in the Middle East was "vital" for global security."Further escalation is a serious threat to peace and stability in the region and in no-one's interest," he said. "This is a dangerous moment and I urge all parties to show restraint."Rubio also said that Israel acted unilaterally, adding in a post on X, that the US is "not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region".The attack appeared to be the most significant Iran has faced since its war with Iraq in the 1980s.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had "struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme" and "the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponisation programme".Netanyahu added the "operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat".Iranian state television reported that the leader of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Hossein Salami was killed as well as chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri.Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the UK "must use our influence and diplomacy" to deliver "stability in the Middle East".In a post on X, Dame Priti also called for a de-escalation of tensions, adding: "The world is an increasingly dangerous place with significant threats to our national interests, security and defence.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said international leadership is needed from the UK Government."People across the UK and the world will be fearing the break-out of widespread regional conflict in the Middle East, following Israel's strikes overnight," he said."The UK must work with allies to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions through diplomacy, not war."
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
David Lammy heads to US for crisis talks over Israel-Iran conflict
Mr Lammy and US secretary of state Mr Rubio will discuss the situation in the Middle East on Thursday evening. Iran and Israel continued striking each other's territory overnight as the crisis deepened. We currently advise against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. If you are a British national in Israel or the OPTs, you should register your presence to receive updates ⤵️ — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 16, 2025 A hospital in southern Israel was hit by a missile, while a heavy water facility in Iran was targeted in the latest blow against Tehran's nuclear programme. Mr Lammy's meeting in Washington comes amid speculation US involvement could require the use of the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Islands. The B-2 stealth bombers based there are capable of carrying specialised 'bunker buster' bombs which could be used against Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordo. But UK Attorney General Lord Hermer is reported to have raised legal concerns about any potential British involvement in the conflict beyond defending its allies, something which could limit the extent of any support for the US if Mr Trump decides to act militarily. .@POTUS on dismantling Iran's Fordow nuclear facility: "We're the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it — at all." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 18, 2025 Energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told Times Radio: 'Legal advice is for the Prime Minister, and I think that's where it will stay and you can understand why I won't comment on that. 'But what I will say is that we have a Prime Minister who is a lawyer and a human rights lawyer, he will obviously do everything that is in accord with international law.' She said Sir Keir Starmer was acting as a 'cool, calm head, to urge all partners around the negotiating table and to find a diplomatic route out of this'. But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: 'I don't think we can hide behind legal advice at a time of crisis and national security when we have to work alongside our biggest ally in the world, the United States, when they look to us for potentially… setting out operational activities through our own military bases.' She said the Conservative Party would support British involvement in military action against Iran if it was deemed necessary. Iran long has insisted its nuclear programme is peaceful, but it is the only non-nuclear-armed state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far in excess of the levels required for power stations. Dame Priti told Good Morning Britain: 'While we want peace in the region, we're crystal clear that Iran should not be able to obtain nuclear weapons. 'And if the Government judges that such action is necessary to avoid that then we would absolutely support the Government if it deemed it necessary to ensure that we can defend our country, our citizens and effectively a lot of our strategic equities in the Middle East region.' She also told the programme that the Government needs to 'step up' support for Britons stranded in Israel after the airspace was closed. 'I think the current Government's response is not sufficient and if families of embassy staff and personnel are being evacuated then I think the same facilities must be extended to our citizens,' she said. The Foreign Office has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel based on a specific assessment of the risks they face, but has not advised British nationals. Britons have already been advised against all travel to Israel and those already in the country have been urged to register their presence with the embassy. The UK Government has pointed out that land borders with Jordan and Egypt remain open, and consular teams are in position to provide assistance to British nationals who choose to leave Israel by land. Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said: 'Our first job is to keep British nationals safe, and our dedicated teams in the region are working around the clock to do this. 'We are asking all British nationals in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to register their presence so that we can share our updates with them and make sure we're giving them the best advice possible.'
Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Living the cream? Matt Hancock, 46, dons VERY youthful outfit as he parties on the beach at invite-only Cannes bash
Former health secretary Matt Hancock looked almost unrecognisable as he sported an incredibly youthful look while partying on the beach in Cannes last night. The 46-year-old cut a lean figure with a notably short buzz cut as he swapped the Parliamentary suits and ties for an Ibiza-style all-white linen shirt and cream chinos ensemble during Cannes Lions festival. Finishing off his bohemian look with a pair of white Veja trainers, the trendy middle class shoes which retail at £125, Mr Hancock was seen dancing away with a drink in his hand at one of the exclusive invite-only evening bashes on the beach. MailOnline understands Mr Hancock was representing his family business at the global creative festival and was more than happy to speak about Covid and politics with people he met. 'He was clearly enjoying himself and was friendly and chatty with everyone who went over to him', said a bystander. 'He was happy to chat about Covid and politics and was proud to be in Cannes representing the family business.' Mr Hancock, who became the face of the pandemic when he preached Covid regulations from behind a podium, was forced to quit as Health Secretary in June 2021 following revelations he had broken his own social distancing rules. He was caught in a steamy kiss with his aide Gina Colangelo inside the Department of Health's London HQ on May 6 2021, despite being married to his wife Martha and it being lockdown. Mr Hancock had been sitting as an independent MP since November 2022, when he suddenly announced he would be appearing as a contestant on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. After coming third on the show, he then became the unlikely centre of a TikTok sensation, amassing more than 215k followers with his cringeworthy videos - including one where he mimed along to Ryan Gosling's ballad 'I'm Just Ken' from the Barbie film. His youthful vibe continued in Cannes this week as he was spotted in an all-white outfit during one of the evening bashes on the beach. He has been attending Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity - considered the largest gathering of the advertising and creative communications industry. Mr Hancock owns shares in Topwood Ltd, a waste disposal company owned by his sister and other family members. The former health secretary came under fire when he declared the shares in the family business which was approved as a potential supplier for NHS trusts in England. Mr Hancock declared his ownership in the Commons register of MPs' interests in April 2021 - and a government spokesman insisted there was no conflict of interest and that he had acted 'entirely properly'. However, he was accused of 'cronyism at the heart of government' by then Labour shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth. Mr Hancock declared that he received a 'gift' of 15 per cent of the issued share capital of Topwood Ltd, which specialises in the secure storage, shredding and scanning of documents, under a 'delegated management arrangement'. Since stepping down as an MP, he has also been appointed the managing director of Border Business Systems (BBS), the UK's leading address data experts and also set up a TV firm. Shortly after his success on I'm A Celeb, Mr Hancock set up Greenhazel Ltd in January 2023, but it emerged in April that is has remained dormant ever since. As a dormant company, it has just £1 to its name and no revenue, profit or transactions. Mr Hancock also appeared on on Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2023. He said at the time he had plans to make serious documentaries, on topics including dyslexia and assisted dying. But former politician was recently slammed by Labour MP Richard Burgon, who accused him of 'disgraceful' behaviour and of 'chasing celebrity money'.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
How I uncovered the ringmasters at the heart of the migrant smuggling gangs
Last year, my colleague Rob Lawrie and I set out on a secret mission. I'm an investigative journalist, Rob's an ex-soldier, now an aid worker, and we have combined our talents in the past, working on immigration stories. Together, we had tracked and traced families, some with tiny children, across Europe and spent time in the French camps as they prepared to reach Britain. The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, says it will take time to get investigators and new technology in place, but has pledged to 'go after the criminal gangs at the heart of this'. But the challenge the government faces is enormous, as we discovered when we set out to track down and expose the smugglers themselves. The people who organise the operations, commission the boats and promise entry to the UK via rubber dinghy. We had one target in mind: a man on the Interpol most wanted list who is known to have brought thousands of people across Europe into Britain. His name is Barzan Majeed, but he is known as 'The Scorpion'. Majeed is 38 and an Iraqi Kurd. He's also tough and fleet of foot. When an international police surveillance operation caught 25 members of his gang, he was tipped off and disappeared. When we started to look for him, there were few clues. Rob and I got going by asking questions of our contacts in the camps. People were scared and either told us they knew nothing, or warned us off. One man told us that the smugglers are armed and would do whatever was necessary to protect their trade: 'I'm not scared of anyone, but these guys, yeah, they will put a bullet in your back.' People smuggling using small, inflatable boats began in earnest in 2019 when the surveillance of lorries arriving in the UK was tightened. Back then, Rob and I met a little girl called Marianne who almost died when one of those first dinghies sank in the English Channel. There were 19 people on board the rubber boat and not one lifejacket. Benzine from the outboard engine had mixed with the seawater and become corrosive. Marianne and her mother showed us the livid scars from the burns they suffered. And young though she was, Marianne knew she almost didn't make it: 'I was scared, this was so scary. I was so cold it made me want to die.' The terrified child and dangerous dinghy were the first links in a chain that would eventually lead us through the ranks of a criminal gang to the man at the very top – The Scorpion. When police in the UK pick up migrants, they take and inspect their mobile phones. The Scorpion's number was found in thousands of them – he uses a picture of a scorpion when he sends out messages on WhatsApp. Martin Clarke, a senior investigating officer at the National Crime Agency, told us how significant that image was: 'Some of these crime gangs like to use an alias to gather kudos. We were seeing an avatar of a scorpion over and over and the more we looked, the more Majeed started to feature. You begin to realise that he's a very significant individual.' The officers at the NCA helped us by sharing some of what they knew about Majeed. They showed us his immigration record and we were astonished to learn that he had lived in the UK for almost a decade. He was smuggled in, in the back of a lorry, in 2006 aged 26. He used a false name and claimed to be an asylum seeker fleeing persecution in Iran. His records say he was refused leave to remain after a year, but no one made him leave, even though he was in and out of prison for handling firearms and taking and dealing drugs. British authorities only discovered his true nationality when he slipped up, using a prison phone to make a call to his mother – the number he had dialled was in Iraq. On the brink of being deported, The Scorpion agreed to voluntarily leave the UK and return to Iraq. This was in 2015 – just as millions of people, displaced by wars, were trying to make their way to Europe from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and Eritrea. People smuggling was a huge international business and The Scorpion was in luck – his brother, Carzan, had been sent to prison in Belgium for people smuggling and passed over his business to his brother. Under Carzan, the trade had all been about lorry crossings but by 2019, The Scorpion saw the potential for small boats and for expanding his gang across Europe. We started our search for The Scorpion in Nottingham where he used to live. By using photos on an old Facebook page to trace the car wash where he worked when he first got to the UK in 2006 and which he later ended up buying. One migrant told us how he had been smuggled into Britain and was told to report to a small convenience store and given work, cash in hand, in a car wash. He helped us find the store and I went in, while Rob kept watch as I questioned the manager about claims that the business was picking up migrants from the beaches at Dover and putting them to work. He started messaging on his phone and within minutes four cars with blacked-out windows had pulled up outside. They started taking photos of us and we made a very hasty exit. We knew from other programmes we've made exposing people smuggling that when you question people profiting from it, word goes out. Criminals will get in touch out of curiosity, or to put their side of the story. Enemies also have an interest in bringing other smugglers down: you can get good information from rival gangs, settling old scores. The families of migrants who drown at sea also may be looking for justice and so share what they know. We saw how decent people trying to help migrants inadvertently help the smugglers, funnelling clients to them. After Nottingham, our trail took us to a respectable, middle-aged woman in an affluent Flemish village in Belgium who had turned her big house into a migrant hostel. It even has a secret room for people to hide from the authorities. We found evidence connecting some of the people staying with her to The Scorpion and a nearby lorry park he controls – the chain-link fencing has been removed to allow access to lorries bound for England. We heard from a wealthy Iranian who dealt personally with The Scorpion: he and his relatives were offered a new 'first-class' smuggling service – a premier cross-Channel ferry route costing them £18,000 each. They boarded the ferry in Calais, right under the noses of the authorities. We were so astonished that the man offered to draw us a map of the exit gate they were told to report to. This gate is only ever to be used by staff at the port. The Scorpion had told them they should come smartly dressed and stride with confidence. They'd then be picked up by a corrupt official who'd drive them onto the ferry, avoiding British passport controls. The man even brought them a full English breakfast on the ferry to celebrate their new life in Britain. Our breakthrough came by linking The Scorpion with migrant crossings from Turkey across the Mediterranean to mainland Europe. Rob's contact had sent us to a cafe in Istanbul used by the people smugglers. When we asked the manager if he could tell us about the trade – the room went quiet and a man passing our table opened his jacket to show us he was carrying a gun. Rob and I made yet another swift exit, but not before someone slipped us an Istanbul address for our man, Barzan Majeed. We were too late to find him there, but some men in a cafe opposite knew who he was. We left them our number and later that night, Rob's phone rang. He raced along the corridor in the hotel to bang on the door of my room – Majeed had telephoned us. He wanted to know what we were up to and why we were asking so many questions about him. We eventually tracked down a villa in Marmaris he was using. By asking around we were able to build up a picture of his life there: the smuggling boss high on cocaine sending yachts from Turkey to Italy. These yachts are stripped out so they can hold 100-plus migrants, bringing in thousands for each crossing. A girlfriend told us about the fast cars, the nights out and The Scorpion's love of money: 'He wanted to be a trillionaire. I warned him to stop, but he wanted more.' Then we got word that The Scorpion had been spotted in a money shop in Iraq. Following a violent man to a violent country made us nervous and we knew The Scorpion would be armed and that things could go badly if he felt cornered. But we couldn't give up. One of Rob's contacts offered to mediate and reassure The Scorpion that we hadn't been sent to take him back to face the 10-year jail sentence he had escaped. Telling him we were journalists just looking for information and he agreed to meet in a coffee shop. Within minutes of sitting down we saw Majeed walking towards us, shadowed by his security team who sat on the table behind. He looked like an affluent golfer, with a light blue shirt and black gilet. He looked at ease. We probed him about the loss of life, about the children rescued at sea, but his detachment was chilling. The people going on these boat crossings, he said, only had themselves to blame if things went wrong: 'God doesn't never say go inside the boats; they do that themselves', he said. 'They're begging the smugglers, please, please, do this for us. And then they complain. They say this, that. No, this is not true.' His stare was cold, he had no remorse and he made no effort to cover up his crimes saying he'd smuggled, 'maybe a thousand, maybe ten thousand. I don't know, I didn't count.' While insisting his people smuggling days were over, as he spoke, he was scrolling through his phone. He didn't realise it, but we could see his screen reflected in a polished picture frame on the wall behind. He was checking lists of passport numbers that are sent to corrupt officials to get visas for migrants. It helped explain his luxury lifestyle, the gated compound, top of the range cars and designer clothes. As news of our investigation broke, we were contacted by the deputy prime minister of the Kurdish government in Iraq, Qubad Talabani. He said he was disgusted to hear that a man as dangerous as Majeed was living a life of luxury in Iraq, making money from such misery. The speed of what happened next took us by surprise: that weekend an elite police group was positioned outside the address we had tracked The Scorpion to. A short time later he was behind bars, awaiting trial in Iraq. It would be comforting to think that Majeed was the only man at the top of an international people smuggling ring, and that his capture would warn others off, but it's far from the case. The National Crime Agency is currently overseeing 70 live investigations and this week joined forces with French authorities to secure the conviction of 18 people for people smuggling. The head of the NCA, Graeme Biggar, praised our investigation and the result achieved. In the wake of The Scorpion's arrest, European crime agencies have provided details of other smugglers thought to be hiding out in Iraq and there have been subsequent arrests, showing what can be achieved by this kind of international cooperation. It isn't easy but it can effectively target the smugglers and make them pay for the desperate tragedies we're witnessing in the English Channel.
