Badenoch presses Starmer to strike Iranian missile sites

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stepped up her calls for the government to authorise the RAF to strike Iran's missile launch sites.

The UK has given permission for the US to use British bases to conduct defensive strikes on the facilities, but has not taken part in the action itself.

RAF jets have been shooting down missiles and drones fired by Iran at allies in the region.

However Badenoch told BBC Breakfast: "They need to do more than that, they need to stop the missile sites, you need to go to the source."

"If you have someone with a gun shooting, stopping the bullets is not enough, you need to go after the weapon," she added.

"You can't always wait for people to attack you. Sometimes you have to make sure that you get there first to stop their ability to hurt your citizens."

She added that she did not want to see "troops on the ground".

Speaking to the same programme, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said there was a legal basis that would allow RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites.

He added: "I think your viewers will understand that in response to being attacked, yes, we can take down sites that are anticipating attacking our people across the region."

However the BBC understands that while the government believes taking out Iranian launch sites would be legal as a defensive act, the UK has no plans to do so itself. Downing Street said the government's position had not changed.

The prime minister's spokesman told reporters: "We've been very clear that our response has been to allow the US limited, specific and defensive use of our bases to protect British lives, British interests and our allies in the region."

He added that the UK military was focused on shooting down drones in the air, while the US targets missile launch sites in Iran.

"We have consistently said that we'll take the necessary steps to prevent future strikes which, as we've set out over the course of the week, is allowing the US to take out those missiles at source whilst we are defending the skies."

The Liberal Democrats had earlier called on ministers to give an "urgent clarification" of Lammy's comments, accusing the deputy prime minister of "sliding down the slippery slope to full conflict" with his remarks.

On Sunday, a runway at RAF Akrotiri on the island of Cyprus was hit by a drone and caused what the Ministry of Defence described as "minimal damage". The Cypriot government suspects the drone came from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Two Wildcat helicopters with the ability to hit drones are due to arrive in Cyprus on Friday.

The government also plans to send the warship HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. However, Badenoch accused the government of being slow to act.

The Conservatives are also renewing their calls for the government to spend more on defence.

On Friday, the party said it would use money saved by restoring the two-child cap on benefits - which is due to be scrapped next month - to boost defence spending instead.

The Tories estimate the move would save £1.6bn, which they would put towards new soldiers, equipment and military accommodation.

Meanwhile, Downing Street has said the UK had also offered "further defensive air cover" to Bahrain from four extra Typhoon jets that are being sent to Qatar.

A No 10 spokesperson said Sir Keir Starmer had made the offer during a call with the King of Bahrain on Thursday, and operational teams "would work together on plans in the coming days".

Labour has criticised Badenoch for the way she characterised RAF jet activities in the conflict.

Making her call for the UK to target Iranian missile launch sites, the Conservative leader said: "What else are our jets doing, just hanging around there.

"They need to be able to see who is attacking us, and stop them from firing at British soldiers or even British people on hotels."

Defence Secretary John Healey called on her to apologise for the remark, saying it "insults the men and women of our Armed Forces" who had been "working round the clock" to defend British interests.