Keir Starmer has told MPs that “hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship” after criticism of his stance on the Iran conflict.
A day after Donald Trump dismissed Starmer as “not Winston Churchill”, angry that the US was denied use of British bases for initial strikes, the prime minister’s handling of the UK response to the conflict came under attack by Kemi Badenoch, the opposition leader, at prime minister’s questions.
During a clamorous and sometimes bad-tempered PMQs, Badenoch repeatedly pressed Starmer on his decision not to launch offensive strikes to destroy missile bases, asking: “Why is he asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves?”
Starmer said it was “obviously an extremely serious situation” and the “whole country is worried about the potential for escalation”. He added: “They’re worried about the impact on their lives, particularly when they see what’s happening with energy, the family and friends of those who are caught in the region will be worried sick and, of course, we’ve got civilians and military personnel at risk in the region.”
Starmer told MPs: “What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war, unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable thought-through plan.”
Badenoch said it had been left to the US to destroy Iranian bases that were believed to have launched drones at an RAF base in Cyprus, telling the Commons: “Our bases have already been attacked. Iran is trying to kill our servicemen and women. He is catching arrows rather than stopping the archer.”
When Badenoch pressed Starmer on why additional spending had not been released for defence, he said getting British nationals to safety was the priority of most people.
The first charter flight evacuating British nationals from the Middle East was due to leave Oman at 11pm local time (7pm UK time), with two more flights in the coming days, Starmer said.
More than 1,000 British nationals arrived back in the UK on Tuesday against the backdrop of continuing US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on states in the region, he added.
A further eight commercial flights are due to leave the UAE for the UK today, MPs were told.
Starmer said British military deployments had been under way for a number of weeks, in contact with the US, and told MPs British forces were in operation protecting US lives.
“The American planes are operating out of British bases,” he said. “That is the special relationship in action. British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East on our joint bases. That is the special relationship in action. Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That is the special relationship in action. Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship.”
The British military resources being deployed included radar systems, ground-based air defences and counter-drone systems as well as fighter jets.
“Since Saturday morning multiple F-35s and typhoons have been in operation, not just in the Middle East but across Cyprus,” Starmer added. “Further missions were flown overnight, typhoons defending in particular Qatar, and F-35s defending other regional parties.”
The prime minister’s spokesperson later added: “The PM has been crystal clear on that he will only take decisions that are in Britain’s national interests and which will keep British people safe.”
Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities would be in Cyprus this week and HMS Dragon, a warship that is yet to leave Portsmouth, would be deployed to the Mediterranean.
A suspected Iranian drone hit the British base at Akrotiri overnight on Sunday, causing no casualties and “minimal damage”, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Two more drones heading for Akrotiri were intercepted on Monday, the Cypriot government said. There was also an alert on Wednesday morning.
Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, met oil and gas companies on Wednesday to discuss the volatility in oil and gas prices as a result of the conflict.
