Ed Wilson

What defensive actions does the US propose to conduct from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia which it can't do from its many other bases and resources much closer to Iran?

#BBCPM

It appears to.

UK will defend its allies But only if they were not previously involved in the Iran conflict

UK will defend its allies

But only if they were not previously involved in the Iran conflict

#BBCPM

At a speech today, Badenoch is doubling down on this view. She says: “Britain’s interests, both economically and militarily, are being put under threat by rising separatism in this country.”

The idea that British Muslim voters are greatly motivated by the survival of the Iranian regime feels quite curious. It's also fair to say that worries about the UK being potentially drawn into a wider, goal-less Middle East conflict are traditionally shared well beyond that group.

Kemi Badenoch has accused Keir Starmer of not supporting the initial strikes in Iran for fear of upsetting Muslim voters “whose political loyalties are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest.”

That’s quite the claim, and pretty inflammatory.

Ben Judah: We have an America problem. Our closest ally, around which we have built our whole security, has become profoundly erratic and turbulent... It is not clear, even now, what the objective is of this war... We also have a Europe problem...

Apparently?

BBC News: 300,000 British citizens in countries affected by the US-Israel-Iran war. 102,000 have signed up so far with the UK foreign office.

Government talking about getting them out?

Nothing since Thursday night, apparently.

democracyvolunteers.org/major-concer...

There are lots of legal and academic works on the sovereign bases.

www.lse.ac.uk/Hellenic-Obs...

It was all handled much more efficiently than Gibraltar was.

#WATO

Explained: Who will lead Iran now and what happens next? After the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the country faces a complicated leadership transition as Israel and the US continue attacks

Under Article III of Iran’s constitution, a three-member council will take charge until a new leader is chosen... the president, the head of the judiciary and one of the Islamic scholars, fagih, of the Guardian Council - selected by the Expediency Discernment Council

#WATO

[thread]

#WATO

Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and that he has agreed
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

but…

Trump says 48 leaders killed in strikes on Iran and operation is 'moving along rapidly'
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

… we keep killing them.

#WATO

Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi (Oman foreign minister) flew urgently to Washington to talk to Vance. Presumably he thought the talks had some chance of success.

Elliott Abrams told us yesterday (World Service) that Israeli sources say the date of the attack on Iran was agreed two weeks ago.

#WATO

Hegseth (Secretary of Wah): We didn't start this war.

Under international law, and under the US law you're avoiding, that's rubbish.

#WATO

The UK's bases in Cyprus are not part of the EU, Sarah Montague, due to a bad mistake ten year ago.

#WATO

Nadhim Zahawi fled from Sadam Hussein's Iraq with his family. They had enough money not to have to go through the asylum system he now derides.

#PoliticsLive

He's a representative of the party currently at the top of the polls. He should be told not to be so rude, and to stop lying, however.

#PoliticsLive

Nadhim Zahawi lies about Rwanda being "offshore processing" of asylum seekers, and nobody tells him he's a liar.

#PoliticsLive

Ellie Chowns tries... but the rest of the programme fails to differentiate between asylum seekers and immigration.

#PoliticsLive

How far would "even progressive voters" like to see immigration reduced, Alex Forsyth?

Net immigration to the UK was probably down to about 160,000 last year.

#PoliticsLive

I can see Starmer removing the whip from 100 of his MPs.

Or not, and suffering the consequences.

#PoliticsLIve

Refugee status becomes temporary in asylum shake-up Adults and accompanied children claiming asylum will only receive refugee status for 30 months under the changes.

Shabana Mahmood will announce that from Monday any asylum seeker successfully given refugee status in the UK will be offered only temporary protection... these measures will come into force without a parliamentary vote as they simply change existing rules.

#PoliticsLive

Which of the following options best describes the occupation of the main income earner in your household? If you/they are retired and have an occupational pension, or if you/they are not in employment and have been out of work for less than 6 months, please answer for your/their most recent occupation. Select one option Higher managerial/ professional/ administrative (e.g. Established doctor, Solicitor, Board Director in a large organisation (200+ employees), top level civil servant/public service employee) Intermediate managerial/ professional/ administrative (e.g. Newly qualified (under 3 years) doctor, Solicitor, Board director small organisation, middle manager in large organisation, principle officer in civil service/local government) Supervisory or clerical/ junior managerial/ professional/administrative (e.g. Office worker, Student Doctor, Foreman with 25+ employees, salesperson, etc.) Skilled manual worker (e.g. Skilled Bricklayer, Carpenter, Plumber, Painter, Bus/ Ambulance Driver, HGV driver, AA patrolman, pub/bar worker, etc.) Semi or unskilled manual work (e.g. Manual workers, all apprentices to be skilled trades, caretaker, Park keeper, non-HGV driver, shop assistant) Houseperson / Homemaker

I was about to say how great it is that there's an online survey for children and young people - as it should be, they should be first in line to be asked about this - but um.... I have some questions about the survey design

#PoliticsLive

Iran was bound by a non-nuclear-weapon agreement until Trump sabotaged it in 2018, Nadhim Zahawi.

#PoliticsLive

#PoliticsLive

Was it right for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries not to allow their bases and airspace to be used for the first attacks on Iran, Nadhim Zahawi?

You told us it was wrong for Britain to make that same choice.

#PoliticsLive