Prime Minister Keir Starmer has brushed aside Donald Trump's recent criticism over the UK's stance on Iran, pointing to public opinion and the practicalities of the special relationship. During Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer responded to Conservative attacks by highlighting that American planes operate out of British bases and intelligence is shared daily, arguing that focusing on Trump's words is not the essence of the special relationship.
Trump told the Daily Telegraph that Starmer took too long to allow US forces to use UK airbases, and later said the prime minister has not been helpful, adding: 'This is not Winston Churchill.' However, Downing Street is confident in its approach, noting that Trump's opinions are often fleeting and that other world leaders have learned to ignore much of what he says unless backed by action.
YouGov polling shows fairly strong public opposition to the overall US operation in Iran, with slight opposition even to allowing US aircraft to use British bases. This aligns with Starmer's cautious stance, which a No 10 source described as acting in the British interest to protect British people.
While Starmer has previously accepted Trump's praise and sought benefits such as avoiding tariffs, he has also drawn red lines, condemning Trump's criticisms of Sadiq Khan and rebuking him over comments about British soldiers in Afghanistan. The government maintains that its approach is coherent and consistent with how other US allies operate.
