Boris Johnson criticises Ed Miliband’s appointment as foreign secretary
Boris Johnson has hit out at Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, boldly claiming that the former Labour leader is to blame for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, reports BritPanorama.
The former Conservative prime minister alleged that Mr Miliband’s “failure to stand up to Assad” led “directly” to Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine, stating that the Kremlin will be “delighted” with Mr Burnham’s appointment.
In a post on X, sharing a Telegraph article that criticised Mr Miliband’s new role, Mr Johnson stated: “This is spot on. The failure to stand up to Bashar al-Assad – for which Miliband bears much guilt – led directly to Putin’s first invasion of Ukraine. An appalling choice for foreign secretary. The Kremlin will be delighted.”
The article referenced the then-Labour leader’s reluctance to allow Britain to intervene militarily in Syria in 2013, following Assad’s use of chemical weapons against civilians. It argued that this failure emboldened Putin, facilitating his first invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
As foreign secretary in 2016, Mr Johnson suggested that politicians had contributed to a power vacuum encouraging Russian support for Assad. By early 2017, he acknowledged the possibility of Assad’s participation in a democratic election.
On Monday, Mr Miliband was appointed as foreign secretary, effectively Britain’s top diplomat, as part of the new administration led by Mr Burnham. His selection stemmed from his experience in international leadership and negotiations during his tenure as energy secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
However, reports indicate the White House has expressed “deep concerns” over his appointment and has advised the new prime minister to reconsider the decision.
Donald Trump’s cabinet allegedly warned Mr Burnham that they would find collaboration with Mr Miliband challenging in an international context, particularly due to his support for a range of green energy initiatives that do not align with Trump’s priorities.
Additionally, Mr Miliband has been hesitant to endorse increased oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, a stance that contradicts the US president’s agenda.
A government minister assured that Mr Miliband’s appointment would not negatively impact UK-US relations, despite his vocal criticism of Trump in the past. Mr Miliband has previously described the US president as a “racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper.”
When asked if these comments could present problems in his new role, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News: “No, I think as ever that this government will work with allies across the world.”
He added, “Can we work together on lots of things in mutual interest in both countries? Absolutely, we can.”
