Keir Starmer rages at Trump’s ‘insulting and appalling’ attack on UK veterans | Politics | News

The president also claimed that America “never needed” its NATO partners, despite being the only member state to implement the alliance’s “all for one, one for all” clause in the wake of 9/11. His remarks sparked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum in the UK; Critics have noted both the number of UK deaths in Afghanistan and Mr Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam. Speaking in Downing Street, Sir Keir paid tribute to the 457 British personnel who died and those injured in Afghanistan.

He said: “I think President Trump’s words were insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they caused so much pain to the loved ones of those killed or injured, and indeed across the country.”

Sir Keir said he would have apologized if Mr Trump had said the words he did.

Responding to comments by Diane Dernie, the mother of critically injured veteran Ben Parkinson, she said: “I have made my position clear and I say to Diane that if I had misspoke the way I did or if I had said those words, I am absolutely sorry and I apologize to her.”

He had previously told the Press Association: “I can assure you that the Taliban did not plant IEDs (improvised explosive devices) kilometers from the front line.”

Ms Dernie, whose son Ben was horribly injured when an Army Land Rover hit a mine near Musa Qala in 2006, said the US president’s comments were “the ultimate insult” and called on Sir Keir to stand up to Mr Trump.

Mr Parkinson, a paratrooper from Doncaster, is widely regarded as the most seriously injured British soldier to survive the war.

The explosion caused the former spear grenadier from 7 Para RHA to have both legs amputated, a twisted spine and brain damage.

Al Carns, the defense minister and former commando who served five tours of duty in Afghanistan and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery, said Mr Trump’s comments were “ridiculous”.