Sir Keir’s government had barred US jets from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands for the initial wave of strikes on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer has been torn apart by Nigel Farage after he was accused of undermining the US-UK alliance with “pearl-clutching, humming and hawing” by a senior ally of Donald Trump. The PM had initially blocked American bombers from using British bases during strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth slammed Sir Keir and other European allies for their “legalistic” hand-wringing over the weekend offensive, which targeted Tehran and Iranian missile sites.
Hegseth told a news conference: “Israel has clear missions for which we are grateful. Capable partners are good partners. Unlike so many of our traditional partners who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, humming and hawing about the use of force.” Sir Keir’s government had barred US jets from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands for the initial wave of strikes on Saturday. The Prime Minister had questioned the legality of the operation and warned it could “unravel” the region.
US President Donald Trump and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Image: Getty)
Facing Iranian retaliation — including missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, civilian targets in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus — Sir Keir executed a partial U-turn Sunday. He now permits US aircraft to use British bases solely for “limited” defensive strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missile launchers and stockpiles.
In the House of Commons on Monday, Sir Keir told lawmakers that roughly 300,000 British nationals in the Gulf are “at risk” as Tehran hammers hotels, airports and oil facilities. He ruled out deeper involvement, declaring Britain would not join any US-led push for “regime change from the skies.”
President Donald Trump openly criticised the delay, saying: “Keir took far too long.” Trump added he was “very disappointed” in the Prime Minister over both the basing decision and Sir Keir’s separate plan to hand sovereignty of Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
Sir Keir insisted his stance was rooted in international law and lessons from the 2003 Iraq War, which he marched against as “illegal.” A legal opinion from Attorney General Lord Hermer concluded the Iran strikes could not be justified as self-defence.
Sir Keir said: “Any UK actions must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. We all remember the mistakes of Iraq.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of playing politics to appease Muslim voters and progressives who deserted Labour in recent by-elections.
Ms Badenoch said: “It isn’t international law or principle. It’s pure, partisan, political calculations.”
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage called the Prime Minister’s dithering “pathetic,” saying Sir Keir “looks weak in the eyes of everybody.”
The conflict entered its fourth day on Tuesday with no end in sight. Trump warned a “big wave” of additional US strikes is coming and boasted of “virtually unlimited” munitions stockpiles.
Israel pounded Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Tehran, while Iran hit Gulf energy sites, sending European gas prices surging 52%. More than 100,000 Britons remain stranded in the region amid evacuation planning.
Three US jets were accidentally downed over Kuwait, and security sources say Tehran still has enough missiles and drones to terrorise the Middle East for at least another week.
Sir Keir’s office insisted Britain’s “iron-clad” commitment to international law remains unchanged — even as allies question whether caution has become weakness.
