Sir Keir Starmer leaving No 10 for PMQs on Wednesday (Image: Getty)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said letting the US use UK bases “is the special relationship in action” while “hanging on to Donald Trump’s latest words is not” after the president’s personal attack on him.
The Prime Minister has come under fire from the American commander-in-chief over his initial refusal to allow British bases to be used in the attack on Iran, while the Government has been criticised for failing to protect RAF Akrotiri from a drone attack.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said: “American planes are operating out of British bases. That is the special relationship in action.
“British jets are shooting down drones and missiles to protect American lives in the Middle East on our joint bases. That is the special relationship in action.
“Sharing intelligence every day to keep our people safe. That is the special relationship in action.
Read more: PMQs LIVE: Badenoch erupts in fury at Keir Starmer – ‘what’s he waiting for!’
“Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not the special relationship in action.”
He was responding to Gareth Bacon, the Conservative MP for Orpington, who asked: “The United States of America is our most important international strategic ally. Does the Prime Minister believe that his dithering and equivocal response to events in the Middle East this week has made that relationship stronger or weaker?”
The UK’s airbases, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, were initially denied to the US for their strikes against the Iranian regime.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump said he was “not happy with the UK” over the extent of its support and that “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.
In the Commons, Sir Keir said: “What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. That remains my position.”
In response to Iran’s retaliatory actions, Sir Keir has given the US permission to use British bases for the limited purpose of attacking missile launchers and infrastructure. However, RAF jets have not been involved.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked why the RAF had not taken “offensive action” to destroy Iranian missile sites after British bases in Bahrain and Cyprus had been attacked.
Sir Keir told her: “The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority.
“We’re taking action to reduce the threat with planes in the sky in the region intercepting incoming strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus, and allowing US planes to use UK bases to take out Iran’s capability to strike.”
Air defence destroyer HMS Dragon will be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week.
