Starmer to Face MPs After Trump Claimed He Was 'No Churchill' in Iran Row
The US president said Sir Keir was 'not Winston Churchill' in his latest rebuke of the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir Starmer will face intense questioning in the Commons over his handling of the unfolding Iran conflict, following fresh criticism from Donald Trump. The US president asserted that Sir Keir was "not Winston Churchill" in a pointed remark, highlighting tensions after the UK initially refused American planes permission to launch strikes against Tehran from British bases.
Commons Showdown and Military Moves
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced Britain would deploy HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 air defence destroyers, to defend Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone. The war between Iran and the USA, now in its fifth day, is expected to dominate the agenda when Sir Keir enters the Commons at noon on Wednesday for Prime Minister's Questions.
Mr Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the UK, stating he is "not happy" after it did not initially allow the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran. In the Oval Office, he added: "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with." Despite these repeated broadsides, Downing Street has insisted the US remains a "staunch" ally.
Strategic Decisions and Naval Deployment
Sir Keir decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, could be used in the conflict. However, this permission is limited to defensive strikes aimed at protecting countries targeted by Tehran.
HMS Dragon is being prepared to depart for the Mediterranean, accompanied by two Wildcat helicopters equipped with "drone busting" Martlet missiles, to safeguard Britain's bases in Cyprus. The warship, featuring the Welsh red dragon on its prow, was photographed on Tuesday night at the Upper Harbour Ammunition Facility in Portsmouth harbour.
Evacuation Efforts and Regional Impact
Elsewhere, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that a Government charter flight will take off from Muscat, Oman, "in the coming days" to repatriate vulnerable British nationals. Approximately 130,000 Britons have registered their presence in the Middle East with the Foreign Office amid evacuation planning.
A handful of commercial flights are already bringing thousands of stranded Britons back to the UK, but the vast majority of departures from the region have been cancelled due to widespread airspace closures.
Escalating Conflict and Economic Concerns
America and Israel have continued to pound Iran since killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Tehran and its allies have retaliated against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and oil and gas production facilities.
Mr Trump has indicated the US military could start escorting oil tankers through the narrow Strait of Hormuz to defend them from Iranian attacks and contain the soaring energy prices triggered by the war. This move underscores the broader economic and strategic implications of the ongoing conflict.
