Keir Starmer‘s leadership was called into question during Friday’s (February 20) episode of GB News, as the Prime Minister was slammed for refusing to support Donald Trump‘s plans to strike Iran. Presenters Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello were joined by guests, former Labour adviser James Schneider and journalist Emma Trimble, to discuss the latest headlines. This included the report that the British Government had not granted the US permission to use its military bases in a potential strike on Iran.

In the past, the US has used RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the UK’s overseas territory of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to carry out strikes in the Middle East. Sir Keir was skewered for his decision, with Emma suggesting the Labour leader was making a mistake by not being an ally. She stated: “We should be a better ally to the United States… this is an issue of strategic importance.”

The journalist continued: “Iran poses not just a destabilising threat to the entire region, but this is also to do with them developing their nuclear capacity as well.

“I think we should be standing by Donald Trump, and I know you were saying about international law, but the reality is, our enemies in Russia, China and Iran don’t give two hoots about international law.

“In a sense, we are just being hamstrung by talking about this international rules-based order.” Emma blasted: “There isn’t one, it’s a fiction.

“If you can’t defend and protect that international rules-based order, there’s no one to stand up for it; it doesn’t exist, so ultimately I think a lot of these strategic moves that Donald Trump is making are to our benefit and we should be cosying up to him rather than cosying up to countries like China.”

However, fellow GB News guest James disagreed and claimed that Starmer’s refusal was the true reason why Trump has repeatedly U-turned on his support for the Chagos deal.

Referring to reports about Sir Keir’s decision, he echoed: “The Government’s legal advice is that it would be illegal, that bombing Iran would be illegal, and if we used our airbases, we would be complicit in an international crime.

“Apparently, the government has said that they can’t do that. In Trump’s Truth Social message, there’s a reference to Fairford, which is an RAF base in Gloucester, which seems to line up with the report.”

On Wednesday, the US President wrote: “Prime Minister Starmer is losing control of this important Island by claims of entities never known of before.

“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime — An attack that would potentially be made on the United Kingdom, as well as other friendly Countries.”

Trump added: “Prime Minister Starmer should not lose control, for any reason, of Diego Garcia, by entering a tenuous, at best, 100 Year Lease. This land should not be taken away from the U.K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally.”