Politics latest: Trump rebukes Starmer again over Iran as repatriation flights head towards Middle East conflict

The State Department updated its travel advice for Thailand early Wednesday “due to tensions in the Middle East.”

The statement said: “Tension in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight delays and cancellations.

“Even if your destination is not the Middle East, your travel plans may be affected.”

Affected British nationals are advised to monitor their airline or tour operator’s latest updates and review their travel insurance policies before travelling.

A minister won’t say when the defense investment plan will be published.

Asked when the plan would be unveiled, Under Secretary to the Treasury James Murray told Times Radio: “The Ministry of Defense is working hard to get this out as soon as possible.”

He avoided answering the question about whether the Treasury kept this waiting.

While being questioned about the drone attack on RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Mr Murray said Britain had improved its defense capacity in recent weeks.

“The important thing is that we are prepared for that and we step in now and make sure we have the capability to defend there,” he said.

A minister has rejected Donald Trump’s claim that Sir Keir Starmer is not “Winston Churchill”, saying the Prime Minister approached the situation “with a cool head, real clarity of purpose” and a “determination to do what is right for the British people”.

Asked whether the US president was right to say that, Treasury Secretary James Murray told Times Radio: “No, look, President Trump has expressed opposition to the decision we made to participate in the initial strikes on the US.” Iranian throughout the weekend.

“But I think what is really important when we think about this decision is to recognize that the Prime Minister took the decision he made in the national interest and approached it with composure, real clarity of purpose, real focus and determination to do the right thing for the British people.

“So we made the decision a few days ago not to engage in these offensive actions, the initial attacks, but then when it came to defensive action to protect British citizens, we took action and made sure we did what we needed to do to keep the British people safe.”

Asked whether Mr. Trump’s words were important, he said: “I think the President expressed himself with these words, but what is important to me is that the Prime Minister makes the right decisions on behalf of the United Kingdom and, of course, that the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom continues. You know, we work together with the United States every day.”

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced that the UK would send HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy’s six Type 45 air defense destroyers, to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone.

The war between Iran and the US, now in its fifth day, is likely to dominate the agenda when Sir Keir enters the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions at noon on Wednesday.

HMS Dragon is preparing to sail to the Mediterranean and will be accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with Martlet missiles, called “drone blasting”, so that the UK can protect its bases in Cyprus.

The warship, with the Welsh red dragon on its bow, was photographed at the Upper Harbor Ammunition Facility (UHAF) in Portsmouth harbor on Tuesday night.

Speaking at the White House, the US president unleashed another rant about Britain, claiming Sir Keir was “very uncooperative” and had “ruined relations” over Iran and the Chagos Islands.

Mr Trump has lashed out at Britain several times since the US launched an attack on Tehran and criticized Sir Keir for not immediately allowing the US to use British bases to attack Iran.

Speaking of European nations’ support for US action in Iran, Mr Trump added: “I’m not happy with the UK either.”

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British citizens, their spouses and children under 18 will be able to board a charter flight from Muscat on Wednesday as long as they have a valid travel document.

The Foreign Office said priority would be given to the most vulnerable people, who would be contacted by British nationals in Oman. Anyone who has registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates and is currently in Oman is asked to reserve a seat on the flight.

They asked people not to travel to Muscat International Airport in Oman unless they are contacted by authorities.

Dependents who are not British citizens will need a valid visa or permit to enter or remain on a visa for more than three months.

The State Department said they are working with airlines on more routes.