Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom was not involved in the US operation in Venezuela, which saw President Nicolás Maduro and his wife captured by special forces and airstrikes hit Caracas. The prime minister described the situation as fast-moving and said he was waiting for more details to emerge.
Speaking for the first time since the attack, Starmer said he had not spoken to US President Donald Trump and that the UK was keen to establish the facts. He confirmed the government is working with the British embassy in Caracas to support the approximately 500 Britons in Venezuela.
Starmer told broadcasters: 'The UK was not involved in any way in this operation, and as you would expect we are focusing on British nationals in Venezuela.' He added that he would want to talk to allies after establishing the facts.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, condemned the action as 'illegal', saying it could embolden other leaders. The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, also urged Starmer to oppose the operation, criticising the 'special relationship'. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it 'unorthodox' but suggested it might make China and Russia think twice.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said 'nobody will shed tears' over Maduro's removal, while awaiting full facts. The Conservative frontbencher noted that the previous government did not consider Maduro's administration legitimate.
