Keir Starmer Says Trump’s Bombing Of Iran Is Illegal And He Has No Plan
Keir Starmer has said Donald Trump’s bombing of Iran is illegal as he hit back at the president’s criticisms of his actions during the crisis.
The prime minister also claimed America and Israel have no plan for what happens after the war ends.
His comments at prime minister’s questions came a day after Trump said Starmer was “not Winston Churchill” in the latest escalation of the war of words between the pair.
Trump is furious that Starmer initially refused to let the US use British bases to launch their attacks.
Asked by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch why he had done so, the PM said: “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. That remains my position.”
Starmer changed his mind on Sunday after Iran began bombing countries across the Gulf region, putting up to 300,000 British lives at risk.
US jets have now been given permission to use British bases to target Iranian missile launch sites and weapon storage depots.
British planes are also taking part in “defensive” operations by shooting down Iranian missiles and drones.
The prime minister said: “The family and friends of those who are caught in the region will be worried sick about them. And of course, we’ve got civilians and military personnel, at risk in the region. We need to act therefore, with clarity, with purpose, and with a cool head.
“The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority, and we’re taking action to reduce the threat, with planes in the sky and the region intercepting incoming strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus and allowing US planes to use UK bases to take out Iran’s capability to strike.”
Starmer also insisted that the so-called “special relationship” between the US and UK had not been put at risk by his spat with Trump.
He said letting the US use UK bases and British jets shooting down drones in the Middle East “is the special relationship in action” while “hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not”.