UK warship STILL hasn't set sail for Cyprus base and might not arrive for a 'couple of weeks', Defence Secretary John Healey admits as Britain's humiliation deepens
Ministers face more embarrassment over the handling of the Middle East crisis today after admitting the warship earmarked to defend Britain's Cyprus base might not arrive for a fortnight.Keir Starmer finally ordered the deployment of HMS Dragon on Tuesday, amid fury that the crucial site had been left vulnerable to Iranian reprisals.Instead, Greek, Spanish, French and Italian vessels have been covering to intercept missiles and drones in what critics have decried as an 'humiliation' for the UK. HMS Dragon is still being prepared in dock at Portsmouth, and is not expected to leave until next week. And Defence Secretary John Healey, who is on Cyprus, suggested that the delay could be even longer. Playing down anger at the lack of preparations, he told reporters last night: 'As circumstances in any conflict change, you've got to be willing to adapt the action you take.'I'm doing that by bringing in anti-drone helicopters in overnight. I'm doing that in the next couple of weeks to bring in the Type 45 air defence destroyer.'Touring broadcast studios this morning, Deputy PM David Lammy gave an even more elastic timetable.'HMS Dragon will be in the region in the coming weeks to further bolster and further support our air defences,' he told Sky News. Defence Secretary John Healey, who is on Cyprus, suggested that HMS Dragon might not arrive for a 'couple of weeks' Type 45 air defence destroyer HMS Dragon (pictured today loading with missiles) will not be ready to set sail for the Eastern Mediterranean from Portsmouth until next week Donald Trump has not denied calling Sir Keir Starmer a 'loser' as he continues to fume at the Prime Minister for failing to back his military action against Iran
Timeline of events relating to Iran strikes February 26Talks between the US and Iran over the latter's nuclear programme ended without agreement. Trump has threatened to attack the Islamic Republic if no deal is reached.February 27The Foreign Office 'temporarily' withdraws staff from Iran.February 28 US and Israeli forces attack Iran in what the two countries described as a 'pre-emptive' strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons. Starmer says the UK 'played no role in these strikes' which kill Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Dubai is hit by Iranian missiles, damaging the Fairmont The Palm Hotel and the airport.March 1 UK ministers including John Healey refuse to say whether the Government believes the strikes are legal as missiles rain down on the Middle East. Plans for potential evacuation of civilians begins. In the evening, Sir Keir says British aircraft have 'successfully intercepted Iranian strikes' and he has U-turned and given the US permission to use British bases including Diego Garcia for defensive missions.March 2Mr Healey confirms RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone that did 'minimal damage late on March 1', with two others shot down. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper says it is 'not in the UK's interests' to support the US attacks.March 3 Trump uses interview to attack Sir Keir for not helping attack Iran, saying he is 'not Churchill'. The PM responds by saying his Government 'does not believe in regime change from the skies'. France says it will send frigates and the Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group to Cyprus after appeal from the country's president, who also asked Germany for help. Greece also sends two warships. Stung into action, the UK announces HMS Dragon will also be sent from Portsmouth.March 4 Sir Keir says Trump lacks a 'viable, thought-through plan' for the Iran war, during PMQs. Questions are raised about the state of the Royal Navy after it emerges that HMS Dragon will not be ready to set sail for Cyprus until next week. The first Government rescue flight from Muscat is due to take off but it is grounded by a technical issue at the airport in Oman.March 5Sir Keir insists the UK-US special relationship is 'in operation right now' but admits he has not spoken to Trump since the first day of the conflict. Spain, Italy and the Netherlands all agree to send ships to protect Cyprus. It is revealed the 'minimal damage' done to Akrotiri was a strike on a hanger used by the USAF's U2 spy planes. The Government's rescue flight finally takes off from Oman. 'I'm doing that by bringing in the top planners to help … co-ordinate the sort of contribution that other nations are now starting to make … the German frigate in the area, and Greek ships also now joining.'The US-Israeli war with Iran has entered its seventh day with little sign of slowing down.Sir Keir scramble to show he has a grip on the situation yesterday by calling a Downing Street press conference to explain his approach. He swiped at Donald Trump for plunging the Middle East into 'chaos' by launching the dramatic attacks on Saturday and admitted the US President has been giving him the silent treatment.In a Downing Street press conference, the PM played down a mounting backlash over Britain's lack of military preparations and the meltdown in the Special Relationship.Standing by his decision to stop the US carrying out 'offensive' airstrikes on Iran from UK bases, Sir Keir said he was providing 'calm, level-headed leadership' and appealed for the nation to 'come together'. He also argued that the UK had been deploying resources such as anti-aircraft missiles to the region for months. The premier said helicopters with capability to shoot down missiles and drones would be arriving in the Mediterranean tomorrow, and more Typhoon jets were being deployed to Qatar. 'While the region has been plunged into chaos, my focus is providing calm, level-headed leadership in the national interest,' Sir Keir said. Bracing Brits for looming pain from spiking energy costs, he added: 'This conflict could continue for some time.' Spain is to join France, Italy and the Netherlands in sending its navy to Cyprus. Madrid said the frigate Cristobal Colon would join a growing international armada in the Eastern Mediterranean to 'offer protection and aerial defence' and 'support any evacuation of civilians' from the island.RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian drone fired from Lebanon on Sunday, raising major concerns about the standard of local air defences.Officials initially said the damage was minor, but has since been revealed the drone hit a hangar used by the US for U2 spy planes flying high-altitude reconnaissance missions.Criticism has been fuelled by reports in the Spectator that the first enquiry from the US about using UK bases for strikes came 11 days before they were launched on Saturday. That would mean the Government had a substantial warning of what was coming. Asked whether the Special Relationship was ruined, Sir Keir said: 'Look, the special relationship is in operation right now.'We're working with the Americans in the deployment from our bases. We are working together in the region, the US and the British, working together to protect both the US and the British in joint bases where we're jointly located, and we're sharing intelligence on a 24/7 basis in the usual way.'That is the special relationship. That is a special relationship in operation and, clearly, it's for the president to take decisions that he considers in the national interest, the right decisions, for the US.'I understand that, I respect that, but equally, it's for me as the British Prime Minister to take decisions that I consider to be in the best interest of the United Kingdom.'There's nothing controversial about that. The special relationship is operating right here at an important point.'He insisted he was 'satisfied that we can keep our people safe' amid accusations of dithering and a lack of UK preparedness in the conflict.Britain started 'pre-deploying' to the region in January and February, he said, particularly to Qatar and to Cyprus, where RAF Akrotiri was struck by a drone earlier this week in an attack that sparked questions about a lack of defence.'There's been a lot of pre-planning gone into this, a lot of pre-deployment that's gone into this,' Sir Keir said.'And I'm satisfied that we can keep our people safe and we're working very hard to make sure that wherever people have registered their presence, we can help them with the information that they need and the support they need, and get them back to the United Kingdom as quickly and as safely as possible.' Touring broadcast studios this morning, Deputy PM David Lammy gave an even more elastic timetable Spain said the frigate Cristobal Colon would join French and Greek ships in the Eastern Mediterranean to 'offer protection and aerial defence' and 'support any evacuation of civilians'
