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Kemi Badenoch accused of insulting armed forces for saying RAF 'hanging around' in the Middle East

UK Defence Secretary John Healey says Kemi Badenoch’s remarks insult service personnel and demands she apologise for suggesting RAF jets are inactive in the Middle East.

  • During a live BBC Breakfast interview, Badenoch suggested RAF jets are 'just hanging around there', prompting live fact-checking on March 6, 2026.
  • Badenoch argued the government must reduce Iran's strike capability by saying Royal Air Force jets striking Iranian missile launch sites would protect service personnel and stop further attacks.
  • During the interview, BBC Breakfast presenters challenged Badenoch's phrasing by pointing out the 'arrows' were actually drones and missiles, not just hanging around, as she claimed.
  • Amid the backlash, John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence, said her remarks insult the armed forces and urged her to apologise, after Badenoch described the response as 'so slow' yesterday.
  • Providing legal context, Lammy added RAF jets could strike Iranian missile sites used to attack British interests, and jets are currently shooting down missiles and drones, he said.
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23 Articles

Evening StandardEvening Standard
+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
Center

Badenoch says UK is ‘in this war whether Starmer likes it or not’

The Tory leader accused the Prime Minister of ‘sitting on the fence’ over the conflict in the Middle East.

·London, United Kingdom
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LBCLBC
Lean Right

Tory leader asked to apologise for suggesting UK military ‘just hanging around’

Kemi Badenoch said there was a need to reduce the capability of Iran to attack British bases, adding that the UK is currently just “catching arrows”

·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Sky News UKSky News UK
Center

Kemi Badenoch accused of insulting armed forces for saying RAF 'hanging around' in the Middle East

The Tory leader said British forces needed to stop Iranian missiles being launched rather than just intercepting them.

·United Kingdom
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HuffPost UKHuffPost UK
Left

Defence Secretary Demands Kemi Badenoch Apologise After Criticising UK Troops

The Tory leader claimed British jets are "just hanging around" amid the Iran war.

·United Kingdom
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Daily MirrorDaily Mirror
Lean Left

Kemi Badenoch urged to apologise for 'insulting' British armed forces

Defence Secretary John Healey accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of disrespecting British servicemen and women after she claimed RAF planes were 'just hanging around' - despite pilots being active

·London, United Kingdom
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The London EconomicThe London Economic
Left

Kemi Badenoch fact-checked by BBC's Charlie Stayt over armed forces claim

Kemi Badenoch was fact-checked live on air over her claim that British military jets are "just hanging around" in Iran.

·London, United Kingdom
Read Full Article
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thepoke.com broke the news in on Friday, March 6, 2026.
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