The hasty withdrawal by the United States of its twelve B1 Bombers from RAF Fairford, without explanation by the Pentagon, has fuelled much speculation. The most obvious conclusion is that there was an ongoing security threat to the airbase in Gloucestershire, even after the foiling of last week’s attack, if that is what it was.

The lesson for the UK from the sudden departure of the US bombers should be clear: we are now primarily responsible for own defence and security

The lesson for the UK from the sudden departure of the US bombers should be clear: we are now primarily responsible for own defence and security

The US, while initially pleased with what they said was a good UK reaction to that incident on 27 September, seemed as bemused as many others as to why five men, who were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences, were subsequently released on bail.

The sequence of events is certainly bizarre: an alleged terror attack foiled by one of Gloucestershire’s redoubtable farming ladies; the arrest of five suspects, then their release on bail; the news that one of the suspects had dialled 999 an hour before the call that seemed to have activated Plod; and the subsequent arrest and release on bail of a further suspect, a UK-Iranian national. None of this really makes much sense, even after the Prime Minister pointed the finger at Iran. The US administration now regards the UK, with some justification, as a no longer wholly reliable ally.

The security threat to........

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