Keir Starmer is currently grappling with internal Labour Party tensions concerning the Middle East situation, following his decision to permit the US to use British bases for strikes against Iran.

The Prime Minister finds himself under pressure as left-wing members criticize the military actions initiated by Donald Trump.

In an announcement last night, Sir Keir revealed that American military forces would be allowed to conduct operations from UK bases for defensive purposes. This follows a barrage of drone and missile attacks launched by Tehran against several neighboring countries.

Downing Street has emphasized that this decision does not represent a policy reversal, despite initial refusals to join Israel in the joint strikes or to clarify the UK’s stance. In contrast, both Australia and Canada have expressed their support for the actions.

While some Members of Parliament have welcomed this shift in policy, others are outraged by the UK’s support for US military operations. The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are advocating for a parliamentary vote on the matter.

Sir Keir’s political challenges are further intensified by Labour’s recent defeat to the Green Party in the Gorton & Denton by-election, a setback that has emboldened the hard-left factions within the party.

It is not clear whether Sir Keir – who did not take questions last night – will make a statement to Parliament later.

On a day of geopolitical drama: 

• The FTSE 100 opened lower amid fears the crisis will drive up oil prices and inflation, preventing the Bank of England lowering interest rates;
• The UK’s RAF Akrotiri base on Cyprus was targeted by Iran last night but there were no injuries;
• The US and allied countries are racing to stop Iran being able to launch huge stocks of drones and missiles.  

Keir Starmer announced last night that American forces would be permitted to operate from UK bases for defensive purposes, after the Tehran regime rained down drones and missiles on a host of nearby states

The PM is facing more tensions within his ranks, as left-wingers condemn Donald Trump’s action

Smoke rises over Kuwait City amid Iranian retaliation strikes this morning 

Labour MPs have been condemning the PM’s change in stance over the US action

The Greens – who defeated Labour in a by-election last week – have been urging a Commons vote on the decision

Touring broadcast studios for the government this morning, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was ‘not in the UK’s interests’ to support the US attack on Iran over the weekend.

She told Times Radio: ‘I think our guiding issue has been about UK interests and about what we think is the right way forward.

‘And our assessment was that it was not in the UK’s interests to provide support for the action that took place over the weekend.

‘But it is in UK interests and it is the right thing to do – given how many British citizens that we have in the region – to support this defensive action now.’

Hostilities in the Middle East are entering their third day, having already resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Shortly after Sir Keir’s announcement last night the UK base on Cyprus was targeted, although nobody was hurt. 

Israel has launched strikes on Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, overnight after Hezbollah fired missiles across the border.

The Israeli military confirmed it intercepted a missile and reported no injuries, later urging residents in 50 Lebanese villages to evacuate ahead of possible retaliatory action.

More than 300,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are thought to be at risk in the Gulf as the Tehran regime launches further missiles at its neighbours.

In a recorded statement last night, the PM said he had agreed to a US request to use British bases to protect UK nationals and allies in the region, accusing Iran of pursuing a ‘scorched earth strategy’.

Sir Keir said British forces would not be directly involved in the strikes, and the bases would only be used for the ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ of targeting missile storage depots and launchers being used to attack Iran’s neighbours.

He said: ‘We have taken the decision to accept this request – to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region, killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk, and hitting countries that have not been involved.’

It is not clear which bases will be used, but Donald Trump has previously referred to asking to use Diego Garcia, one of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Reports have also suggested the US could use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which can handle American heavy bombers.

Mark Carney, prime minister of Canada, said he supported ‘the US action’ to ‘prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon’ and continuing to threaten ‘international peace and security’.

Shortly after Sir Keir’s announcement last night the UK base on Cyprus was targeted, although nobody was hurt

And Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese used similar language, while Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, also supported the action.

Meanwhile the UK, in a joint statement with France and Germany, condemned Iran’s retaliation and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table, but did not openly back the strikes.

Defence Secretary John Healey repeatedly refused to state the UK’s position on the US-Israel action yesterday.

Asked six times by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg if the UK supported the strikes or believed they were legal, Mr Healey declined to give a direct answer.

Mr Healey’s remarks were seized on by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch who tweeted: ‘Britain’s Defence Secretary can’t tell us if our Government supports the strikes on Iran. We are not being governed.’

Mrs Badenoch said that she stood with the US and Israel as they ‘take on the threat’ of Iran.

Sir Keir’s initial refusal to allow the US to use UK military bases reportedly came after a legal opinion – drafted by Attorney General Lord Hermer – emphasised the primacy of international law. 

But shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson has dismissed the reluctance as ‘weak and wrong’, suggesting that Canada and Australia have better lawyers.