Strait of Hormuz

Lord Callanan Excerpts

Wednesday 18th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I do not accept the premise that the noble Baroness began with, which was about detachment. The positions that we have taken are ones in which we feel there is consistency with international law. Before you involve yourself in a conflict of this nature, history—and history from not even that long ago—teaches us that you must have a clear plan and support your allies and partners. That is how we will proceed. I agree with her on the abhorrent nature of the Iranian regime and its activities in the region that have cost the lives of many people we care about deeply, and its activities on the streets of the United Kingdom.

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that the UK needs to work together with our allies to help to reopen the strait. However, France currently has 10 warships in the Middle East. We have none, although, to be fair, HMS “Dragon” is apparently on her way there. In an act of great strategic foresight, the Government withdrew our last minesweeper, HMS “Middleton”, from Bahrain eight weeks ago. Does the Minister agree with her noble friend Lord West of Spithead that this decision was a “terrible error”?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I have heard a lot from people who think that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is a straightforward, simple act and that uniquely they know the necessary things we should be deploying. I say gently that this a hell of a lot more complicated than that. I have been listening to the last few Questions and noble Lords opposite seem to have come in today with really high ambitions for this Government on high streets, defence and all sorts of things. After 14 years of neglect, they really think we can turn it round after two years. I say gently to the noble Lord that he bequeathed us the smallest Armed Forces since the time of Napoleon, and we are delivering the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.