DEFENCE Minister Tobias Ellwood denied that the UK had taken its "eye off the ball" and said the government was looking at a "series of options" after Iranian forces seized a UK-flagged tanker.

Asked during his appearance on Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday whether the UK had taken its "eye off the ball", the MP for Bournemouth East replied: "No, not at all."

Mr Ellwood said the UK had vessels going through 100 nautical miles of waterway every day, adding: "It is impossible simply to escort each individual vessel."

Asked if sanctions were off the table, Mr Ellwood said: "Cobra was taking place yesterday, so we're looking at the operational responsibilities from that but, yes, we are going to be looking at a series of options."

Mr Ellwood also called for more money to be invested in defence if Britain wants to continue to play a role on the international stage.

He said: "If we want to continue playing a role on the international stage – bearing in mind that threats are changing – all happening just beneath the threshold of all-out war, then we must invest more in our defence, including our Royal Navy.

"Our Royal Navy is too small to manage our interests across the globe if that's our future intentions and that's something the next prime minister will need to recognise."