Boris Johnson says Britain could join the US in taking military action against the Syrian regime – and it could be without approval from MPs
Foreign Secretary says it is 'very difficult to say no' if asked by President Trump
BORIS Johnson has said it would be "very difficult to say no" if Donald Trump asked Britain to help in taking military action against Syria.
The Foreign Secretary said today that it may not even need to be approved by MPs - and Theresa May backed his view.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "I think it will be very difficult if the United States has a proposal to have some sort of action in response to a chemical weapons attack, and if they come to us and ask for our support.
"Whether it's with submarine-based cruise missiles in the (Mediterranean), or whatever it happens to be, as was the case back in 2013.
"It would be in my view, and I know this is also the view of the Prime Minister, it would be very difficult for us to say no."
America carried out a strike in Syria earlier this month in response to a chemical attack in the country which killed 80 people.
When asked if the PM would have to win a Commons vote before taking action, he replied: "I think that needs to be tested."
He also tried to de-escalate the tension between the West and North Korea by saying military action against the regime is “not a good idea”.
The Foreign Secretary said “most reasonable people” would urge against it as he appeared to pressure America not to strike Kim Jong-un.
The US is set to step up sanctions in North Korea to try and persuade them to end its nuclear missile programmes.
And some US officials have called for missiles to knock North Korea's weapons out of the sky.
And the Foreign Secretary said it is unlikely Britain will be asked to get involved despite Donald Trump ratcheting up the rhetoric over Pyongyang’s nuclear testing.
Mr Johnson was speaking about the situation in the Korean peninsula after he attacked Jeremy Corbyn over his foreign policy stances in an article for The Sun.
The Cabinet minister blasted into the snap election campaign this campaign by telling voters not to feel sorry for the “mutton-headed old mugwump” Labour leader, as he poses an “enormous threat” to the country.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said there is a risk that people will look at Mr Corbyn and not see the “risk that he presents”.
Mr Johnson said the hapless leftie had said “we should get rid of NATO and our armed forces”, adding it would be the “height of folly” for us to disarm.
He said Mr Corbyn had “no grasp of the need for this country to be strong in the world” and questioned how he would respond to the “semi-deranged” regime in North Korea.
But he added that “most reasonable people” think military action against N Korea is “not a good idea”.
Mr Johnson also appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, and asked about his attack on the Labour leader he replied: “I apologise to mugwumps everywhere for comparing them to Jeremy Corbyn.”
Questioned on whether he stood by the claim during the EU referendum Britain would get back £350million to spend on the NHS if we voted leave he said: “Of course I do.”
He insisted the figure was “not disputed”, and when confronted with the fact Nigel Farage had distanced himself from it he added: “As far as I remember, the gentleman in question belonged to another party and wasn’t on my bus.”