Keir Starmer is wrestling to quell a Labour meltdown over the Middle East crisis today after allowing the US to launch strikes against Iran from British bases.
The PM is facing more tensions within his ranks, as left-wingers condemn Donald Trump‘s action.
Sir Keir 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.
But while the shift has been welcomed by some MPs, others are furious 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.
It is not clear whether Sir Keir – who did not take questions last night – will make a statement to Parliament later.
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
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.
