No 10 hits back after critics say response to disaster ‘too slow’

DOWNING STREET has defended its response to Hurricane Irma amid criticism it did not do enough to prepare for the disaster.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister called the UK’s response “swift”, after it was suggested it had lagged behind France and the Netherlands in taking care of its territories.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Government “should have acted much faster” given the “well-known” news about the storm.

British tourists stranded in the affected regions have also hit out at the “disgusting” way they have been treated by tour operators.

Downing Street’s comments came as Theresa May held another meeting of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Friday to co-ordinate relief efforts for victims.

The spokeswoman told a Westminster briefing: “We believe our response was swift. We had a ship pre-positioned. We are getting lifesaving aid now to those who need it.”

She said the Government was waiting for “a full picture of intelligence to come through”, adding: “Three flights departed (yesterday) morning carrying marines and engineers as part of the MoD task force.” Downing Street said that the Department for International Development’s disaster response centre was sending out supplies of aid to be loaded on to HMS Ocean, which has been diverted from the Mediterranean to head for the Caribbean. Labour MP Virendra Sharma, inset, said Hurricane Irma was not adequately prepared for, despite indications that it would wreak devastation.

Mr Sharma, who sits on the International Development Committee, welcomed the decision to send further resources, but said: “If we had that planned well in advance, then when it actually happened we could have immediately taken steps, like France.”