Business Secretary Peter Kyle has defended Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Ukraine and said that he has played a pivotal role in “stopping the expansion of Russia across the continent of Europe.”
He told GB News: “The main business of Parliament this week has already been done, but Prime Minister’s Question Time was a big moment yesterday. That was when the House of Commons bid him farewell and wished him well in his life beyond politics, and he has found the time in his very busy last week to go to Kyiv and see President Zelensky.
“It is an incredibly important relationship for this country. We have been supporting Ukraine now in its struggles against the illegal invasion from Russia since day one. He has assembled the coalition of the willing with President Macron, and it is incredibly important at this moment of transition in the United Kingdom that we show that our steadfast support for Ukraine continues.
“It is symbolic of a prime minister who has been steadfastly committed to stopping the expansion of Russia across the continent of Europe. The seriousness of this cannot be overstated.
“All the way through this, it is essential that Ukraine maintains territorial integrity; that the sovereignty of its people is respected, and it will only happen if you have steadfast leaders like Keir Starmer. And I know that Andy Burnham will recommit to the mission that we have to make sure that Ukraine survives this illegal invasion, this unwarranted attack from Russia.
“It must be resisted, and to show this at this moment of time is incredibly important. This is about the territorial integrity of the continent of Europe.
“It could not be more serious, and it is entirely appropriate that the Prime Minister, at this point, this important point of the transition of power in this country, is there to show in person the commitment of this country to the people of Ukraine.”
Asked why taking British Steel into public ownership is necessary, Kyle said: “Because the supply of steel to our country is essential, and under the previous ownership, I couldn’t guarantee the supply of steel into our country.
“So I have decided to take the unusual but needed step to bring British Steel under public ownership. This plant behind me produces two million tonnes of high quality, the highest quality steel that you can produce. It is critical for our critical national infrastructure. It goes into the rails that we are now building across our country for the expansion of our rail network.
“It goes into the most prestigious and important construction sites, and of course we are building a lot in Britain at the moment.
“So if this plant were to disappear, it means that we would be left to the mercy of the international markets at a time when we all know that supply of critical supplies to our country is really uncertain, and I cannot allow that uncertainty to prevail when it comes to such an important commodity for our country.”