Labour demands answers on Houthi airstrikes

This morning, ministers woke up to the news of a second joint airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen – and some in Westminster have been left reeling that the attacks came as a surprise. Some eight targets were struck, according to the Pentagon, in a UK and US effort to deter continued interference with shipping operations from pirates in the Red Sea. It follows action taken on 11 January. 

However, unlike before the previous attack, neither Sir Keir Starmer nor Lindsay Hoyle were briefed in advance by the government. The Labour leader backed the first mission, but both the SNP and some left-wing Labour MPs warned of the potential for regional escalation. Their fears will not have been allayed by Downing Street’s decision this time not to share details of the attack with the opposition in advance. This choice follows reports that US military figures were frustrated after news of the first attack leaked in Westminster.