Keir Starmer today affirmed his commitment to his decision to reject Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran, criticizing them as lacking strategic planning, despite facing stern criticism from the United States.

Addressing Members of Parliament amidst rising tensions, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the President was displeased with the UK’s initial reluctance to participate.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth intensified the rhetoric by criticizing the ‘hand-wringing’ seen among America’s traditional allies.

In a significant strain on the Special Relationship, Sir Keir maintained his stance against ‘regime change from the skies,’ emphasizing his responsibility to prioritize Britain’s national interest, a decision he firmly supports.

Sir Keir anticipates potential backlash from his own party’s left-wing MPs following a partial policy reversal, as he agreed to allow American forces to use British bases for ‘defensive’ measures in response to potential Iranian counterattacks.

In an effort to address the dissent, the Prime Minister assured the Commons that the use of British bases would be strictly for agreed defensive purposes, clarifying, ‘We are not aligning with US-Israeli strikes.’

Kemi Badenoch has accused the premier of being ‘scared’ of large blocs of traditionally Labour voters whose ‘loyalties are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East’.  

Earlier, Mr Trump said he was ‘very disappointed’ with the Labour leader – complaining he ‘took far too long’ to change his mind and permit the strikes.

Amid fears over a major blow to the Special Relationship, Mr Trump suggested the initial refusal was unprecedented.

Mr Hegseth took aim at the UK’s stance as he hailed Israel as a ‘capable’ partner.

‘Unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, humming and hawing about the use of force,’ he added. 

Making a statement to MPs on the mounting crisis, the PM acknowledged that the US was not happy that the UK initially refused to get involved

Donald Trump said he was ‘very disappointed’ Sir Keir Starmer initially blocked the US from using British military bases to target Iran

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth went further in swiping at the UK’s stance as he hailed Israel as a ‘capable’ partner

The PM 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. 

Downing Street insisted the move is not a U-turn, despite the premier initially refusing to participate in the joint strikes with Israel – or even say whether the UK backed them. In contrast both Australia and Canada have been supportive, sparking fury that Sir Keir was sitting on the fence to avoid riling his own backbenchers.

Sir Keir said the UK will act to protect its people in the region and aid its allies nearby, as he called for a return to diplomacy.

He told MPs the Government would ensure Jewish and Muslim places of worship would have security in place after the attacks on Iran, and retaliation against Israel.

He said: ‘I’ve spoken recently about the toll that global events are taking here at home. They come crashing into our lives with ever greater frequency, hitting our economy, driving up prices on the supermarket shelves or at the pump, dividing communities, bringing anxiety and fear. That’s why how we operate on the world stage matters so much.

‘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.

‘I say again, we were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran, and we will not join offensive action now, but in the face of Iran’s barrage of missiles and drones, we will protect our people in the region, and support the collective self-defence of our allies, because that is our duty to the British people.

‘It is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat, to prevent the situation spiralling further, and support a return to diplomacy. It is the best way to protect British interests, and British lives. That is what this Government is doing.’

He said: ‘The lessons of history has taught us that it is important when we make decisions like this that we establish there is a lawful basis for what the United Kingdom is doing. 

”That is one of the lessons from Iraq. And there is a viable thought-through plan with an objective that can be achieved. ‘That is the principles that I applied to the decisions that I made over the weekend. 

‘They are the principles I applied to the decision not to get involved with the offensive strikes of the US and Israel.’ 

But Mrs Badenoch said: ‘Why is it that under this PM international law always seems to be at odds with our national interest… we in this House are elected to stand up for Britain’s national interest.’ 

Mr Trump told the Telegraph: ‘That’s probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.’

He added: ‘All of a sudden [Mauritius] was claiming ownership. He should have fought it out and owned it or make him take it, if you want to know the truth. But no, we were very disappointed in Keir.’

Kemi Badenoch raged that Sir Keir had only acted when he had no choice, and pointed out ministers are still refused to back the military steps explicitly. 

But while the shift has been welcomed by some Labour MPs, others are livid at the assistance being provided to the US operations. The Lib Dems and Greens are pushing for a Commons vote on the decision. 

The political difficulties are compounded for Sir Keir after Labour’s humiliating defeat by the hard-Left Greens in last week’s Gorton & Denton by-election. 

Sir Keir – who did not take questions last night – is expected to make a statement to Parliament later.

At a press conference in Westminster today, Nigel Farage said the PM’s dithering stance had been ‘frankly pathetic’.

‘I think to say to the Americans that they could not use UK bases or Diego Garcia to carry out any of their missions is something that the president has responded to by saying already that he’s deeply disappointed. I suspect that, for once from Trump, is actually a mild understatement,’ the Reform leader said.

‘And I do believe that Starmer’s actions don’t just threaten the special relationship, but probably he has posed or did pose a major threat to Nato.’

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’.

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

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

At a press conference in Westminster today, Nigel Farage (right) said the PM’s dithering stance had been ‘frankly pathetic’

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.

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

She added today: ‘We knew on Saturday that our allies in Canada and Australia had backed the action taken by the United States and Israel. 

‘Yet Keir Starmer still couldn’t tell the British people where our country stood or whether the UK would allow the use of our own airbases. It took Iranian missiles hitting allies in the Middle East and a UK base in Cyprus before Starmer finally approved the use of our bases, and this morning the Foreign Secretary still can’t say if the Labour government supports the action against Iran. 

‘Iran’s regime has funded international terrorism, attacked British nationals, brutally repressed its own citizens calling for freedom, and continues to try and develop a nuclear weapon. It should not be beyond our government to say they welcome the US-Israel taking action. 

‘But, particularly in the wake of the by-election last week, the Labour government are too scared to say what is obvious to the rest of us. In towns and cities across Britain there are large blocs of voters – that Labour see as their voters – whose political loyalties are swayed by conflicts in the Middle East, not the British national interest. 

‘So we watch our Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers squirm and obfuscate in interviews, because they cannot say what needs to be said because too many of their voters do not want to hear it.’  

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. 

The peer and KC said: ‘Is this now UK policy: If Iran fires missiles at Dubai or Oman, UK forces intervene. But not if the missile is aimed at a US ship or Tel Aviv? 

‘If so, in the conflict between US and Iran, this approach makes the UK a bystander. Still weak and still wrong.’