Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson claims Ed Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary is an 'appalling choice' that will be 'delighted' by the Kremlin, linking his 2013 opposition to Syria military action to Putin's invasions of Ukraine. The row intensifies scrutiny on Labour's foreign policy record and raises US concerns over the 'special relationship'.
Boris Johnson has issued a stark warning that Ed Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary will be met with delight in the Kremlin, arguing that Miliband's past actions directly contributed to Vladimir Putin's ability to invade Ukraine.
The former Prime Minister's critique centers on Miliband's 2013 decision, as Labour leader, to block British military action against the Assad regime in Syria following its use of chemical weapons. Johnson asserts this inaction derailed a planned US-led intervention, emboldened both Assad and his Russian backer, and created a vacuum that led to the annexation of Crimea and, ultimately, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The controversy has reignited fierce political debate, drawing criticism from across the spectrum and raising concerns among US officials about the state of the 'special relationship' under a Labour government. The heart of the controversy lies in the events of August 2013. After the Assad regime used chemical weapons to murder over 1,400 civilians, Prime Minister David Cameron sought parliamentary approval to join a US operation to degrade Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.
Ed Miliband, then Leader of the Opposition, ordered his Labour MPs to vote against the motion, a move that directly caused the government to lose the vote and abandon its plans. This decision was immediately cited by the Obama administration as a key reason for its own subsequent decision not to proceed with unilateral strikes.
Middle East expert Charles Lister stated that 'Miliband's central role in nixing UK (& thus, US) response to chemical weapons use in Syria had huge global impacts,' creating a precedent of Western hesitation that Putin exploited. The argument, advanced by Johnson and others, is that this demonstrated a lack of resolve which convinced Putin that the West would not robustly resist his territorial ambitions, first in Crimea in 2014 and then in the mainland in 2022.
The fallout from Miliband's 2013 stance was not limited to international relations. His own party colleagues have since criticised the decision. Wes Streeting, now a key figure in the Starmer cabinet, had previously suggested 'the hesitation of this country and the United States created a vacuum that Russia moved into and kept Assad in power for much longer,' though he later played down his direct criticism of Miliband.
The appointment has also triggered alarm in Washington, particularly among former officials from the Trump administration. Reports suggest senior figures warned Labour's Andy Burnham that Miliband, known for his strong stance on climate change ('net-zero'), would be a 'point of friction' in transatlantic ties. Steve Bannon reportedly characterised the appointment as 'very injurious to the special relationship.
' Furthermore, concerns are rising over Labour's stance on defence basing, including the blocking of a US request to use Diego Garcia at the start of a potential conflict with Iran. In his first public remarks, Foreign Secretary Miliband invoked his family's history as refugees from Nazism, vowing to defend democracy and the rule of law.
An FCDO spokesperson stated the Foreign Secretary is appointed to 'defend Britain's interests and values,' but Conservative critics argue his very presence will undermine the 'special relationship' from day one
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