PM brands Trump's comments about UK troops in Afghanistan 'insulting and frankly appalling'

Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister suggested Trump should apologise for his claims that allies "stayed a little bit back" during the conflict.

He paid tribute to the 457 British personnel who died and those who were injured, and said: "I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country.

"There were many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries.

Read more: Fury over Trump’s claim Britain ‘stayed off front line’ in Afghanistan as Downing Street hits out at president's Nato remarks

Read more: ‘Ultimate insult’: Mother of war hero Ben Parkinson blasts Trump for saying Britain stayed away from front lines

"I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country."

Sir Keir said he would apologise if he had said the words used by Trump.

It comes after the President sparked anger from ex-servicemen and their families over his claim that British troops and NATO allies stayed off the frontline in Afghanistan.

In an interview with Fox News, he said: "We've never needed them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."

But despite the row, the Prime Minister defended the UK's relationship with the US.

He added: "We have a very close relationship with the US, and that is important for our security, for our defence and our intelligence and it’s very important we maintain that relationship.

"But is it because of that relationship that we fought alongside the Americans for our values in Afghanistan.

"And it was in that context that people lost their lives or suffered terrible injuries fighting for freedom, fighting with our allies for what we believe in."

Trump's comments were also met with disgust by the mother of former British paratrooper Ben Parkinson, who was severely injured British soldier in a tour of Afghanistan after his Army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006.

Speaking to LBC's Shelagh Fogarty, Mr Parkinson's mother, Diane Dernie, has slammed the claims, saying they "get worse every time you hear them."

Mr Parkinson, from Doncaster, is widely viewed as the most severely injured British soldier to have survived the war.

The blast left the former lance bombardier in 7 Para RHA with both legs amputated, a twisted spine and brain damage.

Mrs Dernie told Shelagh: "The gut reaction is worse every time you hear it. Everything about his statements, the words he uses, the tone of voice that he uses, the utter dismissal of everything that our troops went through and sacrificed in Afghanistan.

"An absolute disgrace, absolute disgrace."

She added: "There are 400 odd families who would dearly love to be in the position that we are.

"And our job for the last 19 and a half years has been fighting for Ben because of the sacrifice that he made and so many others like him in Afghanistan."

The UK suffered the second highest number of military deaths – 457 – in the Afghanistan conflict, behind the US, which saw 2,461 deaths.

In total, America’s allies suffered 1,160 deaths in the conflict, around a third of the total coalition deaths.

Robert Dicketts, whose son Oliver, 26, was one of the 457 British deaths on the front line in Afghanistan, also hit out at the remarks on Friday.

Mr Dicketts said: "I think my thoughts about Donald Trump are probably unprintable. To put it politely, Donald Trump’s knowledge of history is lacking considerably."

Speaking to LBC on Friday, former Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt, reflected on the "individual stories of heroism."

She told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: "The SAS and the SBS did incredible things to save US hostages.

"The RAF, the Army Air Corps and the Royal Marines performed again, putting their lives in danger. Incredible actions to rescue and retrieve US personnel."

She added: "It is of course not true what the president has said and at times like this, I think we just have to remember and focus with the US on our common threats and our common interests and ignore this kind of chat from the president."

Also speaking to Nick on LBC, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock praised British armed forces as the "definition of courage, patriotism, professionalism [and] dedication".

He said: "They sacrificed so much for our country and have done for hundreds of years. II do feel very strongly that the president's comments are wrong."

The Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride, called on Trump to withdraw his comments.

He said: "It is a complete travesty of the truth to suggest that our involvement was anything other than complete and absolute, and those remarks really should be withdrawn."