Decision to send HMS Richmond to Middle East not an escalation in tension, Shapps says 8th January 2024 at 3:40pm

HMS Richmond and her crew set sail from Devonport last week

The decision to send Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond to the Middle East does not represent an escalation in tension in the region, the Defence Secretary has insisted.

Grant Shapps told the Commons the Type 23 frigate was travelling to the Gulf where she would then allow the Royal Navy to swap places with HMS Diamond or HMS Lancaster – two vessels that are already in the region.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey has asked: "In light of these escalating tensions what other Royal Navy ships has he put on standby for the region?"

But Mr Shapps replied: "Richmond is actually sailing to the region because both Diamond and HMS Lancaster are already there and eventually will need to be swapped out."

• Heading out for 2024, HMS Richmond sets sail
• HMS Richmond remains vigilant while on patrol in all weathers in the Baltic
• Royal Navy frigate shadows Russian warship through English Channel

Mr Shapps added: "So it is not an escalation ... but I do want to repeat to him, to the House and to the country, that we will not tolerate trade being impacted globally in the manner in which the Houthis are currently impacting it.

"It will have ramifications on everybody’s bills and the flow of free trade and goods - and it must come to a halt."

HMS Richmond and her crew set sail from Devonport last week on her first deployment of the year.

HMS Richmond, one of Britain's busiest and most versatile warships, had been in the Baltic Sea before Christmas with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to "ensure stability and deter threats to critical undersea cables, pipelines and other assets".

Watch: HMS Richmond embarking on her first operational deployment of the year

Last month, HMS Richmond also welcomed a new commanding officer with Commander Chris L'Amie handing over to Commander Rich Kemp.

HMS Richmond was designed to hunt submarines, but since the end of the Cold War the role of the frigate within the Royal Navy has become more varied, making such vessels the "core of the frontline fleet", according to the service.

The Royal Navy said: "In travelling the world protecting our nation's interests, HMS Richmond undertakes virtually every type of operation imaginable, from counter-narcotics and anti-piracy to disrupting people-trafficking and detaining criminals."