The Government is pushing to widen the number of countries on a key body, which will weaken Britain’s influence.
A plan by Keir Starmer to push for a doubling of a number of countries that permanently sit on the UN Security Council has sparked backlash and claims he is further weakening Britain abroad.
The Prime Minister reportedly wants to double representation on the United Nations’ top forum, which at the moment includes just five countries, giving the UK enormous influence in foreign affairs.
Alongside the present top team, the Government now wants to add countries from Africa, as well as Brazil and India.
The news emerged after Attorney General Lord Hermer said Britain will push to reform the council, including adding Japan and India.
He told a lecture in Birmingham: “We will advocate for reform of the Security Council, to ensure that those with seats at the top table truly represent the global community.”
Keir Starmer wants to reform the United Nations security council (Image: Getty)
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has blasted the plan, calling it a mistake as it will lead to a “dramatic weakening”.
He warns: “China and Russia would be the net beneficiaries as they are hugely allied with the wider list of countries.
“With the exception of Germany that would be a disaster for the free world. It is utterly naive and dangerous.”
Meanwhile former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the move will compound the damage done by Keir Starmer’s controversial giveaway of the Chagos Islands.
He told the Telegraph: “First they surrendered the Chagos Islands in the British Indian Overseas Territory, and now they want to dilute Britain’s influence at the United Nations.
“When Sir Keir Starmer told us he’d bring change, he failed to mention it would involve shrinking Britain’s global responsibilities.”
Iain Duncan Smith has blasted the plan that will ‘weaken’ Britain’s influence (Image: Getty)
Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice described the plan as further “Starmergeddon”, adding: “Now he wants to reduce British influence on UN Security Council.”
He blasted: “After Chagos… this man is a danger to British interests.”
However Labour has hit back, pointing out that under James Cleverly the Tories advocated a similar expansion of the UN PSC, with the same countries.
A source close to David Lammy explained: “That was a government that Grant Shapps served in and he supported that policy. His comments are a bit absurd.
“They should have raised their objections to UK government policy when they were in government.”
While the plans to expand the security coin cil were set out by Kofi Annan way back in 2005, reform plans stalled due to existing member states being unable to agree on which countries should be added.
