Boris Johnson has blamed Sir Keir Starmer for the Houthi rebellion in Yemen due to a controversial vote.
Johnson says Starmer voting to ditch the UK’s defence agreements with Saudi Arabia in 2016 was voting “in favour of the Houthis who want to cause maximum maritime havoc and damage to the UK economy”.
The former prime minister said in his column for MailOnline that Houthi attacks on shipping could cause “incalculable damage to the world economy” adding that a long diversion for cargo ships around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa could eventually end up costing Brits due to higher costs.
When the Houthis launched a successful coup against the Yemeni president in 2014, Saudi Arabia formed a coalition of nine Arab states to restore the government.
But as the innocent death toll of the coalition rose, Johnson said there was “intensified pressure” on the UK to rescind “historic agreements” with Saudi Arabia in order to stop the flow of arms and military support to Riyadh.
On October 26, all five parties in opposition to the Tory government voted to stop supporting Saudi Arabia and Johnson explains he felt this was “wrong” and the motion was voted down.
He said: “If you look at what is happening today, it is obvious that we were right. The Houthis are Iranian proxies. They are pursuing the ever more reactionary agenda of the mullahs of Tehran.
“As for the Houthi suggestion that they are acting in solidarity with Hamas — that is absurd. Hamas actually supported the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in 2015.
“This is nothing to do with Gaza, and everything to do with the Iranian desire to cause maximum disruption in the Arabian peninsula, and to prejudice the reconciliation that had been taking place between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
“The Iranians must not be allowed to succeed, nor must their Houthi clients. This is a moment for the West to be strong — and, frankly, given the stakes, we now have no option.”
He said the incident was proof that “under Labour it would have been, and could be, far worse”.
Johnson added: “Look at those MPs who voted in 2016 to axe the UK-Saudi relationship, and let the Houthis get on with it. There’s Yvette Cooper, and Emily Thornberry, and oh yes, of course, there’s the member for Holborn and St Pancras, Sir Keir Starmer.
“He was totally wrong. He was voting against the interests of the UK’s long-term partners, and effectively in favour of the Houthis — who want to cause maximum maritime havoc and damage to the UK economy.
“He should explain. He should also explain why on earth we should trust Labour with our security.”
