Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard was questioned seven times by Nick Ferrari over whether the UK supports or opposes military action on Iran over the weekend.
He’s a member of the cabinet and so should know the government position. He can also state if UK forces acted in any part of the operation (e.g. refilling).
The decision may not be his but he should be enacting the effect of the decision. It’s absolutely reasonable to ask him.
He may know it. But it is pretty unlikely the gov has one given its trump uncertainty at play. Not to mention the news released on legal opinion.
But no cabinet member is authorised to declare war or not or future attacks on another nation. Without approval of the whole cabinet. So even if he knows it and one exists.
He is in no way authorised to declare it independent of official channels.
And absolutely any journalist in a position to ask that. Knows full well he cannot answer it.
It is absolutely not reasonable. Unless you are intentionally looking for refusal to answer. Because cabinet policy on attacking a 3rd nation is not and has never been released in such an interview. Such things would be officially announced to parliament first. And be an illegal act of treason for any minister to announce in such a way.
He’s a member of the cabinet and so should know the government position. He can also state if UK forces acted in any part of the operation (e.g. refilling).
The decision may not be his but he should be enacting the effect of the decision. It’s absolutely reasonable to ask him.
He may know it. But it is pretty unlikely the gov has one given its trump uncertainty at play. Not to mention the news released on legal opinion.
But no cabinet member is authorised to declare war or not or future attacks on another nation. Without approval of the whole cabinet. So even if he knows it and one exists.
He is in no way authorised to declare it independent of official channels.
And absolutely any journalist in a position to ask that. Knows full well he cannot answer it.
It is absolutely not reasonable. Unless you are intentionally looking for refusal to answer. Because cabinet policy on attacking a 3rd nation is not and has never been released in such an interview. Such things would be officially announced to parliament first. And be an illegal act of treason for any minister to announce in such a way.
He is not a member of the Cabinet.