Early evening summary
Keir Starmer has been urged to stop allowing the US to use British military bases in the light of Donald Trump’s threat to attack power stations and bridges and to destroy Iranian civilisation. No 10 has said the the UK is only allowing American bombers to set off from British soil for missions with a “defensive” purpose, targeting missile sites. (See 1.07pm.) But the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have have said that Starmer needs to go much further. (See 2.22pm and 2.29pm.) Even Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, who has said he would allow UK bases to be used for US attacks provided Trump could explain the strategy (see 2.55pm), has said that Trump’s most recent anti-Iran diatribe went too far (see 4.24pm). Trump is now being reviled by his opponents in the US for his threats, which are sounding at once grotesque, unhinged and absurd.
But Downing Street has declined to criticise Trump directly over what he has said, in line with Keir Starmer’s long-standing decision to ignore the president’s provocations as far as possible. Generally Labour MPs have also held their fire, although some leftwingers have spoken out. This is from Apsana Begum.
Trump is warning of complete catastrophe in Iran.
Our Government can act and has a choice to make.
It can withdraw all access to our military bases, with no overflight, landing or refuelling for the US, or drag the UK into a wider conflict.
The British people do not want war.
And this is from Andy McDonald.
Trump’s reckless willingness to talk in such terms of the death of a whole civilisation, as with his reference to the Stone Age, must be understood as a threat to civilians and civilians infrastructure.
He must step back from the brink - and be told to do so by UK govt.
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
Updated
HMS Dragon back in dock in Mediterranean for maintenance, MoD says
HMS Dragon, which was sent from the UK to protect Britain’s air bases in Cyprus after the Iran war started, has docked in the Mediterranean after suffering technical issues, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The MoD said the Royal Navy type-45 destroyer would till be able to sail at short notice “if required”.
An MoD spokesperson said:
HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems and conduct maintenance.
HMS Dragon will remain at a very high level of readiness during this period, able to sail at short notice if required.
The UK continues to maintain a robust and layered defensive presence in the eastern Mediterranean, working in co-ordination with allies.
This includes Typhoon and F-35 jets, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, and advanced counter-drone and air defence systems.
HMS Dragon was not ready to be deployed when the Iran war started, and had to be made ready very quickly, in a development that was seen by some as evidence that the Britain’s armed forces are not in a fit state for combat.
