Labour has failed to defend Britain against the threat from Iran and will soon be led by a prime minister who has “no experience of foreign affairs”, Dame Priti Patel has warned. She is alarmed by reports outgoing Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham – who is on the verge of moving into Downing Street – is considering choosing as his Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who was beaten by his brother, Ed, in the 2010 Labour leadership race. Dame Priti warned this would unleash “psychodrama” at the heart of Government.

There are fears of renewed conflict following an attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz which triggered US strikes on Iranian targets. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti said the attack was a clear violation of the ceasefire and blasted the Labour Government for not doing more to tackle the threat from Iran.

She said: “Our brave security services have been busy busting potentially lethal Iranian plots on British soil, but our Government has not acted to ensure our long-term safety. They have failed to take the necessary action track down Iranian funding sloshing around in the UK which is used to undermine our security and funds the Iranian regime’s malevolent activity on UK soil. And at a time when Britain should be engaging with our partners in the region so that Iran’s nuclear programme is dismantled and lessons are learnt from how Iran circumvented parts of the 2015 nuclear deal, senior government ministers just bury their heads in the sand.”

Dame Priti described the potential appointment of David Miliband as Foreign Secretary as “concerning”, saying this could lead to a revive the “Miliband brothers’ psychodrama”. Mr Burnham is understood to be considering appointing Ed Miliband as his Chancellor.

She said: “Whether it’s Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham or whoever else takes over the Labour leadership, nothing will change as their selfish and ideological ministers are simply incapable of putting our national interest first. As Shadow Foreign Secretary, I meet with representatives of our allies from across the world.

“And the hard truth is that because of this Government, we are no longer respected or trusted in the way we once were. Labour’s failure to fund our defence has alarmed our allies worried.

“The Mandelson-Epstein scandal has undermined our global reputation. And the abortive Chagos Surrender has made Britain a laughing stock to our rivals.

“Starmer’s resignation is unlikely to herald a change of course. Andy Burnham has no experience of foreign affairs.”