Special relationship in meltdown as Starmer accuses Trump of not having 'viable, thought-through plan' for Iran war

Sir Keir has insisted, despite the personal attacks against him and his response to the attacks on Iran, the special relationship with the US continues.

Mr Trump lashed out at Sir Keir over his initial refusal to allow British bases to be used for raids against Iran, saying “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.

But Sir Keir has responded to criticism saying “hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship in action”, indicating that military and intelligence co-operation with the US was continuing.

He also defended his decision not to allow the US to use British bases in the opening assault against the Tehran regime, suggesting it could have been unlawful and lacked a “viable, thought-through plan”.

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Sir Keir told MPs “the whole country is worried about the potential for escalation” in the Middle East, and “we need to act, therefore, with clarity, with purpose, and with a cool head”.

The UK’s airbases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, were initially denied to the US for their strikes against the Iranian regime.

Sir Keir said: “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.”

In response to Iran’s retaliatory actions, Sir Keir has given the US permission to use British bases for the limited purpose of attacking missile launchers and infrastructure, but RAF jets have not been involved in striking Iran.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked why the RAF had not taken “offensive action” to destroy Iranian missile sites after British bases in Bahrain and Cyprus had been attacked.

Sir Keir told her: “The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority. 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.”

Western officials said on Wednesday that US bombers had not yet used Diego Garcia or Fairford but that the UK was ready to accept them and that they were expected to arrive within the next few days.

The Prime Minister’s efforts to build a strong personal relationship with Mr Trump have been severely damaged by the Iran crisis, with the president singling him out for attacks in the media.

But Sir Keir said the relationship with the US went deeper than the personal ties between the occupants of No 10 and the White House.

“American planes are operating out of British bases. That is the special relationship in action,” he said.

“British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East on our joint bases. That is the special relationship in action.

“Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That is the special relationship in action.

“Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship in action.”

The Government has also been criticised for failing to have enough military assets in the Middle East region after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone.

Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week.

Sir Keir said Wildcat helicopters with anti-drone capabilities would be on the Mediterranean island this week.

And he insisted action had been taken in response to rising tensions in the region before the war broke out.

“Radar systems were pre-deployed, ground-based air defence was pre-deployed, counter-drone systems were pre-deployed and F-35 jets were pre-deployed,” he said.