US defence secretary Pete Hegseth made comments about Europe’s migration crisis while at a D-Day event.
A UK Government minister has accused US defence secretary Pete Hegseth of “lacking in class” after he used a D-Day event to berate Europe over an “invasion” of migrants.
Baroness Jacqui Smith said Mr Hegseth was wrong to make the claim and criticised his decision to do it at a memorial event marking the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy landings.
The former home secretary’s criticism of Mr Hegseth is the latest sign of frustration among ministers at comments from members of US president Donald Trump’s administration.
Over the weekend, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said he had a “robust” conversation with JD Vance over the US vice president’s comments on the Henry Nowak murder.
Skills minister Lady Smith’s comments came after Mr Hegseth spoke at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer in north-western France on Saturday.
He said today “different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies”.
“Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive,” he said.
“When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?
“I pray not, and I believe not.”
Asked if Mr Hegseth was right, Lady Smith told LBC Radio: “No, he’s not right, and no, I think it’s a bit lacking in class to raise it at a ceremony like that.”
The former home secretary said there had been “very big reductions” in net migration under Labour and “we will continue to take action on the things that I think people are really worried about, particularly those who are coming across the Channel in small boats”.
