THE Conservative Party is opposed to sending a British warship to help the US open the Strait of Hormuz, chairman Kevin Hollinrake has said.
He told GB News: “I think clearly that’s a dangerous thing to do right now. This is the US and Israel’s actions they’ve taken in that region.
“We understand we sent some military planners over to the US to help them decide how best to do that. But I think that’s really the responsibility of the people of taking these actions in the region to secure those shipping routes.
“But it’s not the case that we’ve ever advocated involving ourselves in military action right now, other than the fact we do think we should strike back when we have been hit. For example, our base in Cyprus was hit by a drone that was clearly from malevolent forces, and we think in those instances, of course, we should strike back.
“That’s not to say we’ve taken an active role in the actions that have been taken by the US and Israel in the
Middle East.
“It’s not a change of heart. Just let me explain to you. We always advocated allowing the US to use our shared bases, which they co-fund and co-operate on and use, we would never see ourselves restricting our ally in those situations if they feel they need to use those bases.
“We don’t have any insight into everything the US is planning or the reasons for doing so but to stop the US, an ally, using their bases was wrong. We have never advocated joining those actions in terms of that unilateral bombing of Iran and indeed now Lebanon, that’s not what we’ve advocated. Never have.
“It’s been very clear, if I can explain to you again, yes, the US should be able to use our shared bases. No, we’ve never advocated UK planes and missiles proactively hitting that region.
“It’s a very dangerous action. We’re not party to the whole information in terms of the danger in that shipping lane right now, but it seems to us a very risky move to allow UK warships into that region right now.
“So I say in opposition, you don’t get the insight into everything that’s going on, but clearly that would be something that would be a very serious move, and one that can only be undertaken with full information at hand. But it’s certainly not our position that’s something we should engage in right now.”