‘The Kremlin will be delighted’: Boris blasts ‘appalling’ Miliband pick as Foreign Sec after he backed out of Syria action
Boris Johnson has strongly criticised the appointment of a new Foreign Secretary, reportedly David Miliband, branding the choice "appalling" and warning that "the Kremlin will be delighted" by the decision. Johnson's objection centres on Miliband's past record on Syria, where he is said to have backed out of proposed military action, a stance Johnson suggests makes him an unsuitable choice to lead UK foreign policy at a time of heightened tension with Russia.
The article's full details were not available beyond the headline, so specific quotes, the timing of the appointment and the wider political reaction could not be confirmed. The core claims are that Johnson has publicly attacked the pick as damaging to Britain's standing against Russia, linking it directly to Miliband's earlier reluctance to support intervention in Syria.
- Boris Johnson calls new Foreign Secretary pick "appalling"
- Says the Kremlin will be delighted by the decision
- Criticism linked to Miliband's past retreat from Syria action
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the appointment argue Ed Miliband brings genuine diplomatic weight and international credibility, honed through years leading climate negotiations and engaging with global counterparts, making him well-suited to represent Britain abroad. They contend his 2013 stance against military action in Syria reflected considered caution rather than weakness, drawing sober lessons from the Iraq war about the dangers of rushing into intervention without a clear plan or parliamentary consent. From this view, a Foreign Secretary who weighs consequences carefully and respects democratic process is an asset, not a liability, and dismissing him as 'appalling' is seen as knee-jerk political point-scoring from a predecessor with his own contested record on foreign entanglements.
The case against
Critics, including Boris Johnson, argue that the Foreign Secretary's role demands demonstrable resolve, and that Miliband's opposition to Syria action in 2013 sent a damaging signal of British hesitancy that adversaries like Russia were quick to exploit. They contend that appointing someone linked to that retreat risks reassuring hostile actors that the UK's commitment to backing its allies and confronting authoritarian aggression is uncertain, undermining deterrence at a sensitive moment. On this view, credibility with international partners rests on a track record of firmness, and elevating a figure associated with stepping back from intervention is a troubling signal to send from the outset of a new government's foreign policy.