British-Born ISIS Terrorists Should be Killed by Drones, Says New Defence Secretary

Gavin Williamson arrives in Downing Street after he was announced as the new British Defence Secretary on Nov. 2, 2017 in London. Carl Court/Getty Images

The new Defence Secretary has said that British-born ISIS terrorists must be killed and targeted by drone strikes.

Gavin Williamson explained his position on ISIS, together with comments on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in his first interview since being appointed two weeks ago.

Williamson told The Sun that the threats to the UK grow “greater and greater” by the day, and insisted that the UK must carry on using drones to kill any British-born ISIS terrorists.

“They are going to inflict more and more harm on our country, so does that mean eliminating that threat completely? Yes, it does,” he told the newspaper on Nov. 13.

His remarks echo those of another minister, Rory Stewart, who last month said the only way to deal with British ISIS terrorists in almost every case is to kill them.

An ISIS terrorist takes up a position in a destroyed in Damascus, Syria, on Sept. 22, 2014. Rami Al-Sayed/AFP/Getty Images

Williamson was previously the Conservative Party’s chief whip in parliament, charged with ensuring voting discipline on legislation. He had no defence experience prior to his new role.

The 41-year-old vowed to do everything possible to make sure Britain’s Armed Forces get everything they need.

“When you are Secretary of State for Defence every decision you make is very much about the lives and futures of these people that give everything to serve,” he told the Sun.

“You realise you have to be the one that is the loudest voice at the Cabinet table, that is absolutely going to be there fighting for them and hopefully delivering for them,” he said.

Britain's newly appointed Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (R) walks with Military Adviser Colonel John Clark (L) outside the Ministry of Defence in central London on November 2, 2017. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Williamson said that members of the armed forces “put their lives on the line” for the country. “If they do not have a politician that is willing to stick their neck out, fight tooth and nail and make sure they deliver for them, that’s a poor do.”

He also described Kim Jong Un as “a madman that cares ­little about human life” and warned that North Korea is a direct threat to Britain. He added that Russia now poses a dangerous threat to Britain and said that the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn “doesn’t believe in his country.”

Williamson is the successor to Michael Fallon, who quit as Defence Secretary at the start of this month in a sexual harassment scandal.

Britain's former Defence Secretary Michael Fallon leaves 10 Downing Street on Oct. 24, 2017. He resigned in a sexual harassment scandal. Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

On Oct. 23 international development minister Rory Stewart also said that British-born ISIS members presented a serious danger.

“They believe in an extremely hateful doctrine, which involves killing themselves, killing others, and trying to use violence and brutality to create an eighth-century or seventh-century state,” said Stewart.

“Unfortunately the only way of dealing with them will be, in almost every case, to kill them,” he told the BBC.