Starmer defends Iran response as Badenoch calls for more action
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It comes after Trump criticised the PM for refusing to allow the use of UK bases in the initial US-Israel strikes.
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Starmer defends Iran response as Badenoch calls for more action Just now Share Save Becky Morton Political reporter Share Save Sir Keir Starmer has defended the government's approach to the conflict in Iran, saying protecting British nationals is his "number one priority". It comes after President Trump criticised the prime minister for refusing to allow the use of UK bases in the initial US-Israel strikes on Saturday, saying he is "no Winston Churchill". During Prime Minister's Questions Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of "asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves" by not taking "offensive action" after British bases in Bahrain and Cyprus were attacked. But the PM said he was not prepared for the UK to join a war without "a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan". On Sunday the UK agreed to a US request to use British military bases but only for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites. However, Trump has responded angrily to Sir Keir's refusal to be involved in the initial strikes, describing the decision as "shocking" and saying the UK-US relationship was "not what it was". Dismissing suggestions the relationship between the two countries had been weakened, Sir Keir said US planes operating out of British bases was "the special relationship in action" not "hanging on to President Trump's latest words". Follow live updates Trump says Starmer is 'no Winston Churchill' over Iran strikes After Trump's 'no Churchill' jibe can the special relationship recover? Sir Keir said: "We're taking action to reduce the threat with planes in the sky in 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. "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." The PM said the government had also been pre-de...
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