Starmer says UK will not join ‘regime change from the skies’ on Iran

Starmer says UK will not join ‘regime change from the skies’ on Iran PM defends use of UK bases for defensive action but says Britain has ‘learned the lessons from Iraq’ on need for ‘thought-through plan’ US-Israel war on Iran – live updates Keir Starmer has said the UK will not join offensive strikes by Israel and the US on Iran, saying the UK does not believe in “regime change from the skies”. But the prime minister defended the use of UK bases for defensive action, saying that was “the best way to protect British interests and British lives”. Starmer said the UK had “learned the lessons from Iraq”, which had informed his decision not to get involved in the offensive strikes on Iran . “We all remember the mistakes of Iraq, and we have learned those lessons. Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis, and a viable thought-through plan,” he said. Speaking in the Commons, Starmer said it was “my duty to judge what is in Britain’s national interest” despite criticism by the US president, Donald Trump, who had said he was “very disappointed” in Starmer for blocking him from using British bases to carry out strikes on Iran. Starmer said that the UK was responding by deploying UK planes and allowing the use of bases for defensive purposes because of the retaliation from Iran launching strikes on allies across the region. “It is clear that Iran’s outrageous response has become a threat to our people, our interests and our allies, and it cannot be ignored,” he said. “The basis for our decision is the collective self-defence of longstanding friends and allies and protecting British lives. It is in accordance with international law.” He said that an Iranian drone strike heading for a coalition base in Iraq – where UK forces were stationed – had been intercepted by the RAF. A drone was also fired at the British base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, which Starmer said was fired before Sunday’s night’s statement on the US use of UK bases. The defence secretary, John Healey, said th...