Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced criticism after posting a TikTok video about the Middle East crisis, set to the Dire Straits song 'Money for Nothing'. The video, which shows Royal Navy helicopters and military jets, features Starmer stating that protecting British people is the number one priority.
Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton accused Starmer of mimicking Donald Trump's social media style, calling the choice of song 'cloth-eared' given the military's need for more defence spending. He said Trump's 'illegal war' should not be treated as a movie for promotion.
The Green Party also criticised the clip, saying it echoed White House videos glorifying war. Starmer refused to join US-Israeli strikes on Iran but authorised defensive actions.
When asked if the prime minister approved the music, his spokesperson declined to comment on internal processes. Starmer has increasingly used TikTok, previously praised as 'borderline competent', and recently posted clips of a call with French and German leaders about the conflict.
