Summary

  • In the week the UK joined the US in striking Houthi positions in Yemen, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speak to the BBC

  • Lord Cameron tells Laura Kuenssberg that the strikes in Yemen show that the UK and allies are "prepared to take action backing their words"

  • The strikes follow Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea

  • Cameron says the Houthis were given "warning after warning", and that it would not have been right to have a debate in Parliament before strikes

  • Starmer says he supported the strikes. On the question of further strikes, he says he would consider whether to support them "on its merits"

  • On the direction of the Labour party, Starmer says he has "ruthlessly changed" it so that it can credibly contend the election later this year

  • Watch the Kuenssberg show live on BBC One and iPlayer from 09:00 GMT, or stream it here - where there'll be text updates, clips, and analysis

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos

  1. Who else is on the show?

    Cumming, Oakeshott, and Greig

    Cumming, Oakeshott, and Greig

    The two big guests on the show this morning are Lord Cameron and Keir Starmer.

    We'll also hear from:

    • Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of the Independent. Greig was editor of the Daily Mail for three years, after transferring from the Mail on Sunday in 2018
    • Isabel Oakeshott, the political journalist behind the leak of messages sent by Matt Hancock at the height of the Covid pandemic
    • Alan Cumming, an actor who last year handed back the OBE he was awarded in 2009

  2. We're live

    Kuenssberg

    And we’re live - Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is now on air on BBC One, the BBC News Channel and BBC iPlayer.

    Press Play above to watch the show. We’ll bring you live text updates, clips, reaction and analysis right here on this page.

  3. Lord Cameron - wasn't he prime minister?

    UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron will speak to Laura Kuenssberg shortly - and, in case you're wondering, that's the same David Cameron who was prime minister from 2010 to 2016.

    Cameron made a shock return to the political fray last year - here's the memorable moment in November that our chief poltical correspondent Henry Zeffman broke the news.

    The BBC's chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman looked like he had seen a ghost after witnessing former Cameron walk into Downing Street.

  4. What has happened in Yemen since Thursday?

    • On Thursday night, the UK took part in US-led action against the Houthis in Yemen, with 30 targets struck
    • A “follow-up” strike was launched by a US warship in the early hours of Saturday
    • The US said the Houthis had attacked and harrassed ships in the Red Sea 28 times since November
    • The Yemeni group's leader promised to take revenge on the US and Britain
    • The Houthis are backed by Iran - and on Saturday, US President Joe Biden said the US had delivered a "private message" to the government in Tehran
    Map showing strikes in Yemen

  5. Sunak: UK strikes in Yemen were self-defence

    Speaking during a visit to Ukraine on Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK needed to send a "strong singal" to the Houthis in Yemen.

    "People can't act like this with impunity and that's why together with allies we've decided to take this action," he said.

    Sunak: Air strikes on Houthis in Yemen self-defence

  6. Labour supports the operation against the Houthis - Starmer

    When asked on Friday, the Labour leader backed the UK's actions in Yemen:

    Labour leader backs military operation against Houthi rebels

  7. Why the Red Sea matters for trade

    The UK and the US say they struck Houthi targets in Yemen to protect the Red Sea shipping route.

    This map shows why that route - which includes the Suez Canal through Egypt - is so vital.

    Map showing Red Sea route

  8. Cameron: UK had no choice but to act in Yemen

    In the Sunday Telegraph this morning, Lord Cameron says the UK had "no choice" but to strike Houthi targets in Yemen this week.

    There’s no more important a decision a prime minister can make than to send British forces into action. I never thought I would be part of another cabinet discussing this, still less watch another prime minister weighing up such a decision.

    But that is where I was last week. And I could see what a careful, thorough and strong approach Rishi Sunak was taking. Had every alternative been tried? Was there a realistic plan that would work? Was every target thoroughly examined?

    Every relevant consideration was carefully weighed. Every minister forensically quizzed that their department had done all the necessary work. But in the end, the Cabinet agreed we had no choice but to act. Why?

    The freedom of navigation really matters. Since November 19, there have been 26 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Not acting would be accepting that illegal and unacceptable Houthi attacks could virtually shut a vital sea lane with relative impunity."

    UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, Writing in the Sunday Telegraph

    Infographic showing Red Sea trade route

  9. Welcome to our live coverage

    Cameron and StarmerPA Media

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

    In the week the UK took military action in Yemen, we'll hear from UK Foreign Secretary - and former prime minister - Lord Cameron.

    We'll also hear from Labour leader Keir Starmer, who supports the action in Yemen. Other guests include actor Alan Cumming, newspaper editor Geordie Greig, and journalist Isabel Oakeshott.

    The show begins at 09:00 GMT - you can watch it by pressing play at the top of the page, and we'll have text updates, clips, and analysis here.