Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has described Donald Trump's repeated criticisms of Prime Minister Keir Starmer as 'childish', marking a notable shift in her stance towards the US president. In a social media video, Badenoch said the words coming from the White House were 'completely wrong' and counterproductive to the Western alliance.
Badenoch, who has previously praised Trump for taking on the liberal elite, said: 'I think it's actually quite childish. There is a lot that can be said behind closed doors.' She added that the Western alliance arguing with itself sends the wrong signal to opponents in Iran and Russia, and stressed the need to strengthen UK-US relations regardless of who is in power.
The remarks follow overnight comments from Trump, who criticised Starmer for not being sufficiently supportive of the US war on Iran. Trump claimed Starmer had offered to send two aircraft carriers only after the conflict, and said he was 'disappointed' with the prime minister, repeating his view that 'Keir is no Winston Churchill'.
Badenoch's evolving position on the conflict appears to be influenced by polling showing the attack on Iran is largely unpopular with British voters. A week ago, she denied having called for the UK to join the war, after initially criticising Starmer for not allowing the US to use UK bases.
UK government sources disputed Trump's claim about aircraft carriers, saying the situation in the Strait of Hormuz was too volatile to send vessels now.
