A tweet sent by an American official praising UK involvement in the Middle East peace deal is "very sad" and showed the Government was "having to beg" for praise, Kemi Badenoch has said.The Conservative leader had criticised national security adviser Jonathan Powell amid reports which suggested he was involved in the collapse of a major Chinese spying court case.US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, meanwhile, praised Mr Powell for his part in the Middle East peace deal.

A tweet sent by an American official praising UK involvement in the Middle East peace deal is "very sad" and showed the Government was "having to beg" for praise, Kemi Badenoch has said.The Conservative leader had criticised national security adviser Jonathan Powell amid reports which suggested he was involved in the collapse of a major Chinese spying court case.US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, meanwhile, praised Mr Powell for his part in the Middle East peace deal.