The Special Relationship Will Only Get More Distressing From Here

This last week, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt have made a show out of turning aggressively on Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn for saying the government should show restraint with Iran.

All we know about the incident at the moment is as follows:

The U.S has accused Iran of being behind explosions which have damaged two tankers at the Gulf of Oman, one Japanese owned and one Norwegian.

Britain was quick to act with the United States to condemn Iran.

On Saturday the Iranian Administration summoned the British Ambassador to Tehran because of claims made by Britain about Iran’s involvement.

The Iranian Student News Agency reported:

“During the meeting with Iran’s foreign ministry official, Iran strongly criticised Britain’s unacceptable stance regarding the attacks in the Gulf of Oman….no other country but Britain has supported America’s accusations over the attacks.”

The United States government have released this video which they claim shows an Iranian patrol boat approaching and collecting an unexploded mine.

Corbyn’s comments were: “Britain should act with ease to relieve tensions in the Gulf, not fuel a military escalation that began with the U.S withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Agreement.”

A reasonable stance one would assume, given that a chorus of other countries are taking a similar one. a statement from the French government said:

“We call all actors involved, with whom we are in constant contact, to show restraint and de-escalation.”

The German minister of foreign affairs Heiko Maas has said:

“The video is not enough for me, we can understand what is being shown, sure, but to make a final assessment, that is not enough for me.”

Even the owner of one of the tankers, Yutaka Katada President of Kokuka Sangyo, has reportedly said that he doesn’t completely believe Washington’s version of events. He said:

“A mine doesn’t damage a ship above sea level, we aren’t really sure what hit, but it was flying towards the ship.”

However, Corbyn was lambasted by criticisms from Conservative leadership hopefuls. Hunt immediately hit out at Corbyn. The Foreign Secretary said of Corbyn:

“Pathetic and predictable. From Salisbury to the Middle East, why can he never bring himself to back British allies, British intelligence or British interests?”

Donald Trump (his country being the aforementioned British ally) quoted British journalist Katie Hopkins’s criticism of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. In the tweet, Hopkins referred to London as “Khan’s Londonistan.”

Trump has also labelled Sadiq Khan a “national disgrace” (in reference to the rise of knife crime in London).

While Corbyn immediately condemned Trump’s comments as racist, Jeremy Hunt said that despite the use of a slur, he is “150%” with the sentiment behind the tweet.

Michael Gove first attacked Corbyn in parliament, clearly seeing the publicity his opponent received. Gove implied that Corbyn did not support our “brave men and women” fighting abroad.

He then implied that Corbyn had more respect for Palestinian terrorists than he does for the British military.

Gove then mimicked these claims in the BBC Conservative Leadership debate, he was the only candidate to mention Iran. Remaining were; Boris Johnson, Rory Stewart, Michael Gove Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid.

He claimed Corbyn doesn’t “support Britain” but rather “supports the Iranian Administration.”

He was the only candidate to mention Corbyn, he did so three times.

It’s possible Gove just wants to make sure Trump remembers him this time.

Rory Stewart was then asked if he would condemn Trump for quoting the slur, he declined to-do-so in a mumbling fashion.

Gove is, of course, using ridiculous hyperbole, as is Hunt.

Whether Iran is culpable for the attack or not, it is wildly irresponsible, and frankly insulting to the British public, that our Environment Secretary and Foreign Secretary are claiming that military pacifism is anti-British.

Especially, when it is regarding showing no more restraint than is the consensus amongst the rest of Europe.

The Conservative party leadership contest has become a dangerous pandering contest, where all those involved are using their senior government positions to woo Donald Trump even at the cost of militarised escalation.