Yvette Cooper has rejected Tony Blair’s assertion that the UK should have supported Donald Trump’s initial airstrikes on Iran, saying Britain must “learn the lessons” of the Iraq war. The foreign secretary’s comments came after the former prime minister criticised Keir Starmer for not backing the US-Israeli strikes from the outset.
Speaking at a private Jewish News event on Friday, Blair said Starmer “should have backed America from the very beginning” and permitted the use of British airbases for refuelling. He argued that alliances are tested “when it’s hard” and that the conflict was “not like Vietnam” or the Iraq campaign.
Cooper told Sky News: “I just disagree.” She added: “There are some people in politics who think we should always agree with the US whatever. There are other people who think we should never take action with the US again. Neither is in the UK national interest.” When asked if she was calling Blair “a poodle”, she said the key was to learn from Iraq’s mistakes, which she said Starmer had done.
Trump has intensified his criticism of Starmer this week, posting: “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” and comparing the prime minister unfavourably to Winston Churchill. Cooper responded that the UK must “take decisions ourselves” and act in its national interest, not simply outsource foreign policy.
The Iranian ambassador to London, Seyed Ali Mousavi, warned the UK to be “very careful” about further involvement, stating Iran would have a right to self-defence if Britain directly joined attacks. The UK has permitted US use of its bases for “defensive strikes” but has not taken part in offensive operations.
