Defence secretary questioned by MPs over timing of Healey quitting and tanker seizure

Dan Jarvis under pressure about why Russian oil tanker in Channel was captured days after his predecessor resigned

Dan Jarvis has told MPs that the Russian oil tanker seized on Sunday had been monitored for several days as he deflected suggestions that its seizure had been ordered by a prime minister under pressure after the resignation of John Healey last week.

The new defence secretary, flanked supportively in the Commons by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the Smyrtos had been closely tracked" as he faced a question from the Conservatives as to why the capture took place over the weekend.