BRITAIN must help the US reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Keir Starmer has “humiliated” the UK on the world stage, Nigel Farage has said.
The Reform UK leader also accused the Tories and Labour of allowing Britain’s armed forces to become a “total global embarrassment.”
Speaking at a London press conference, he said: “When it comes to aiding the Americans in freeing the Strait of Hormuz, well, I think in many ways we ought to.
“I think it is in our national interest to keep the oil flowing, but we can’t. We haven’t got the assets.”
Farage went on to condemn the Tories and Labour, pointing to years of under-investment that have left the armed forces stretched thin.
He warned the UK currently lacks the military capability to play a meaningful role.
His comments come as HMS Dragon is not even halfway to Cyprus after being dispatched to defend British forces from drones.
Sir Keir Starmer had ordered the Type 45 destroyer to be sent out after a British base on Cyprus, was hit by a drone on March 1.
But now – more than two weeks after the beginning of the war in the Middle East – the £1billion air defence ship has only reached the UK base in Gibraltar.
Following the attack on the RAF base, sluggish Starmer took two days to order the Royal Navy into action.
Despite the best effort of engineers and crew working around the clock, the ship didn’t leave Portsmouth until March 10, after dithering from Sir Keir.
Farage said: “I think the first very big lesson that comes out of all of this is that we have denuded the Royal Navy and our forces to such an extent that, frankly, we’ve been humiliated on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the land capability of the British Army is “nowhere near” being able to hit Nato requirements, according to a deputy chief of the defence staff.
Air Marshal Tim Jones told MPs “a lot” of investment was needed to meet obligations, and highlighted the importance of the delayed defence investment plan.
He said: “We have got a lot of investment to make, undoubtedly, in order to get to where we all need to be, and all our allies are in the same boat here.”
Farage blasted previous governments for years of under-funding the military.
The 61-year-old added: “To be fair, this is not all the fault of this Labour Government.
“Fourteen years of Conservative government have run down our armed forces to a state, frankly, as I say, of total global embarrassment.”
Farage stressed the situation highlights the urgent need to rebuild Britain’s defence strength.
He added: “Our defence spending for next year is due to be just a fraction over 2 per cent and we’re going to have to find ways to significantly and rapidly up that budget.”
Donald Trump blasted Starmer for not actively supporting the US mission to reopen the Strait, saying he was “very surprised” by Sir Keir’s apparent unwillingness.
Downing Street has refused to respond to Donald Trump’s latest attack on the Prime Minister.
A spokesperson said: “I’m not going to give a running commentary on everything the president says.
“The prime minister and president speak regularly and have a good relationship.
“That doesn’t mean we have to agree with the US on everything or support every action they take.”
This follows Labour “intensively” weighing its options to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Ed Miliband earlier this week.
The Energy Secretary suggested minesweepers and minehunting drones could be sent to the Middle East to counter Iran’s choke hold on the vital global shipping route.
Asked on Sky News about the possibility of intervening, Miliband said: “We are talking to our allies.
“There’s different ways in which we can make maritime shipping possible.
“We are intensively looking with our allies at what can be done, because it’s so important that we get the strait reopened.”
But Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey argued the UK should not send ships to help control the Strait of Hormuz, saying Britain should not be at the beck and call of a US president “who does not seem to know what he is doing”.
It comes amid mounting fears Iran has begun laying mines in the narrow sea passage used by oil tankers.
As the turmoil drives up global oil prices, Brits face increasing pressure on household budgets.
The news follows Reform UK’s plans to scrap VAT and green levies in a bid to reduce Brit’s energy bills.
Announcing the policy at a central London press conference, Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said this would save the average household “at least £200 off their energy bill”.
The party says axing the 5 per cent VAT alone would knock around £85 off annual costs.
Ditching green charges – including renewable obligations and carbon price support – would save a further £115, according to the party.
