Keir Starmer Faces Backlash After Letting America Use UK Bases To Attack Iran
Keir Starmer has been accused of jumping “into yet another Middle East illegal war” after agreeing to let America use UK bases to attack Iran.
The prime minister said he was “protecting British interests and British lives” after Iran launched missile attacks on countries across the Middle East.
That came after the US and Israel bombed Iran in a wave of strikes which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei as well as other senior regime officials.
In a statement from Downing Street, Starmer insisted the UK was not involved in the initial attacks on Iran – and that its actions did not break international law.
The US will use British bases at RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia to carry out strikes on storage depots and the launchers use to fire missiles.
Starmer said: “Iran is pursuing a scorched earth strategy. So we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region, because that is our duty to the British people.
“It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and prevent the situation spiralling further.
“This is the British government protecting British interests and British lives.”
But the PM’s decision has been condemned by left-wing politicians, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
He said: “It took just one phone call from Donald Trump for Starmer to jump into yet another Middle East illegal war, failing to learn the lessons of the tragedies of Iraq, Libya and Syria.”
Labour MPs also joined in the criticism of the PM’s decision.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey demanded MPs be given a vote on the prime minister’s decision.
He said: “No matter how the prime minister tries to redefine offensive as defensive, this is a slippery slope. He must not let Trump drag Britain into another prolonged war in the Middle East.
“Starmer must come to parliament, set out the legal case in full, and give MPs a vote.
“We have a duty to defend our brave British troops and citizens in the region, and that must be the focus of any operations. The UK must not be complicit in illegal military action.”
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Starmer had made the right decision “better late than never”.