Starmer says UK sheds ‘no tears’ at the end of Maduro regime in Venezuela
Sir Keir Starmer has backed the transition of power in Venezuela, saying Britain will “shed no tears” over the end of Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
His comments, which will be seen as an effective support for Donald Trump, came after the US President stunned the world by announcing that he had captured President Maduro and taken over the administration of the South American country.
The prime minister had faced calls from Labor MPs and opposition politicians to condemn US action, which included large-scale military strikes and explosions reported in the capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday.
But Sir Keir said in a statement: “The UK has long supported the transition of power in Venezuela. We viewed Maduro as an illegitimate president and shed no tears over the end of his regime.”
He added: “This morning I reiterated my support for international law. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with its US counterparts in the coming days as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
But in an interview recorded earlier Saturday, the Prime Minister refused to say whether President Trump had broken international law.
He told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg program on Sunday: “We need to get the full picture out. Then I need to talk to President Trump, I need to talk to our allies. But I’m not shy about that, I’ve been an advocate of international law and the importance of compliance with international law all my life. But I want to make sure I have all the facts.”
Previously, Labor Party MPs had called on the Prime Minister to condemn the actions of the USA.
Kim Johnson, Labor MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “As a country, do we still defend international law and sovereignty?… This shameless attack is about seizing Venezuela’s resources. We must always defend international law.”
Richard Burgon, Labor MP for Leeds East, said: “The Prime Minister must respond to the illegal bombing and kidnapping carried out by Trump in the same way he would if Putin had carried it out.
“Keir Starmer either believes in international law or he doesn’t. You can’t pick and choose. It’s time to stand up to Trump’s gangster policies.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also said Sir Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s “illegal action in Venezuela”: “Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but illegal attacks like this make us all less safe. Trump is giving the green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski also accused the US president of believing he could “act with impunity.”
“The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister must condemn this illegal strike and violation of international human rights law,” he said.
But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said “no one will shed a tear” over the “dismissal” of Nicolas Maduro.
He said: “We have always strongly condemned Maduro’s brutal and oppressive regime, and the Conservative government has not seen Maduro’s rule as legitimate. No one will shed a tear for his removal.
“We await the full facts about the US operation that deposed Maduro, and we want to see the Venezuelan people enjoy democratic norms and freedoms.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the US’s “unorthodox” military operation in Venezuela could be a deterrent against future Russian and Chinese aggression.
In a post on
“I hope the Venezuelan people can now turn a new page without Maduro.”
This is a developing story, more below…
