‘Weak’ Starmer faces Labour meltdown and demands for Commons vote after ‘U-turning’ to let Trump launch ‘defensive’ strikes against Iran from British military bases

Keir Starmer is today struggling to quell Labor’s collapse over the Middle East crisis after allowing the US to launch attacks on Iran from British bases.

The Prime Minister faces further tensions within his own ranks as leftists condemn Donald Trump’s action.

Sir Keir announced last night that American forces will be allowed to operate from UK bases for defensive purposes after the Tehran regime rained down drones and missiles on several nearby countries.

Although the Prime Minister initially refused to join joint attacks with Israel or even say whether Britain supported them, Downing Street insisted the move was not a U-turn. In response, both Australia and Canada have been supportive.

But while the change is welcomed by some lawmakers, others are angry about the aid provided to US operations. The Liberal Democrats and Greens are pressing for the resolution to be voted on in the House of Commons.

Political difficulties have increased for Sir Keir following Labour’s humiliating defeat by the hard-Left Greens in last week’s Gorton & Denton by-election.

It is unclear whether Sir Keir, who did not take questions last night, will make a statement to Parliament later.

On a day of geopolitical drama:

• The FTSE 100 opened lower on fears that the crisis would raise oil prices and inflation and prevent the Bank of England from cutting interest rates;
• Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus was targeted by Iran last night but there were no injuries;
• The United States and allied countries are racing to prevent Iran from launching large amounts of drones and missiles.

PM faces further tension within his own ranks as leftists condemn Donald Trump’s action

Smoke rises over Kuwait City as Iran retaliates this morning

Labor MPs condemn PM’s change in stance on US action

The Greens, who defeated Labor in last week’s by-election, are calling for the resolution to be voted on in the House of Commons

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who toured broadcast studios on behalf of the government this morning, said it was ‘not in the UK’s interests’ to support the US attack on Iran at the weekend.

He told Times Radio: ‘I think our real issue is about Britain’s interests and what the right way forward is.

‘And our assessment was that it was not in the UK’s interest to provide support for the action that took place over the weekend.

‘But it is in the UK’s interests and, given how many British citizens we have in the region, supporting this defensive action now is the right thing to do.’

The conflicts in the Middle East, which resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are entering their third day.

Shortly after Sir Keir’s announcement last night, the UK’s base in Cyprus was targeted but no one was injured.

Israel launched an attack on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, overnight after Hezbollah launched a missile at the border.

The Israeli military confirmed a missile was intercepted and no injuries were reported, later urging residents in 50 Lebanese villages to evacuate ahead of possible retaliatory action.

More than 300,000 British citizens, including military personnel, are thought to be at risk in the Gulf as the Tehran regime launches more missiles at its neighbours.

In a statement recorded last night, the Prime Minister said he had accepted a US request to use British bases to protect British citizens and allies in the region, accusing Iran of pursuing a ‘scorching strategy’.

Sir Keir said British forces would not be directly involved in the attacks and that the bases would only be used for ‘specific and limited defensive purposes’, such as targeting missile depots and launchers used to attack Iran’s neighbours.

He said: ‘We have decided to accept this request to prevent Iran from launching missiles into the region, killing innocent civilians, risking British lives and striking countries that are not involved.’

It is unclear which bases will be used, but Donald Trump has previously requested the use of Diego Garcia, one of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Reports also suggested that the US could use RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, which could deal with American heavy bombers.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he supported ‘US action’ to ‘prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons’ and continuing to threaten ‘international peace and security’.

UK base in Cyprus was targeted shortly after Sir Keir’s announcement last night but no one was injured

While Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used similar language, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also supported the action.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement with France and Germany, Britain condemned Iran’s retaliation and called on Tehran to return to the negotiating table, but did not openly support the attacks.

Defense Secretary John Healey repeatedly refused to state the UK’s position on yesterday’s US-Israeli operation.

Mr Healey refused to give a direct answer when asked six times by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg whether Britain supported the strikes or believed them to be legal.

Mr Healey’s remarks were also taken into consideration by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who tweeted: ‘The UK Defense Secretary cannot tell us whether our Government supports attacks on Iran. ‘We are not governed.’

Ms Badenoch said she stood by the US and Israel against the Iranian threat.

Sir Keir’s initial refusal to allow the US to use UK military bases reportedly followed a legal opinion prepared by Attorney-General Lord Hermer, which emphasized the primacy of international law.

But shadow attorney-general Lord Wolfson described the reluctance as ‘weak and wrong’, arguing that Canada and Australia had better lawyers.