He is not a member of the Cabinet.
Comment on Armed Forces Minister refuses seven times to say whether UK backs US military action in Iran
wewbull@feddit.uk 1 day agoHe’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.
ohulancutash@feddit.uk 1 day ago
HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 1 day ago
He may know it. But it is pretty unlikely the gov has o0ne gioven its trump uncertainty at play.
But no cabinet member is authorised to declare war or not 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 decare it independent of offoicial 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 this way.