Keir Starmer has been accused of 'complacency' by senior MPs over the UK's lack of preparedness for the war in the Middle East. He faced a grilling by the Commons Liaison Committee, where he was challenged with claims the UK 'is at war'. A former marine accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'humiliating Britain' over his response to the Iran war.
Politically, Keir Starmer will accuse Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform counterpart Nigel Farage of poor leadership over the Iran war. Labour lost a seat to the Greens in last month's Gorton and Denton by-election, coming in third place after Reform UK. There is no political consensus between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch over the US's action in Iran.
It's hard to answer that question, if I'm honest about it. I think all our focus and energy has to be in the swift de-escalation, but we've got to plan on the basis that it could go on for some time.
The government has adopted a defensive military stance, with the PM rejecting a US request for full access to UK military bases for pre-emptive strikes on Iran, later allowing access only for defensive and limited attacks. The UK has given permission for the US to use British bases to conduct defensive strikes on Iranian missile launch facilities. The BBC understands that while the government believes taking out Iranian launch sites would be legal as a defensive act, the UK has no plans to do so itself. Downing Street said the government's position had not changed, with the response being to allow the US limited, specific, and defensive use of UK bases.
Conservative opposition has called for more aggressive action, with leader Kemi Badenoch stepping up her calls for the government to authorise the RAF to strike Iran's missile launch sites. The Conservatives are renewing calls for the government to spend more on defence. They said they would use money saved by restoring the two-child cap on benefits to boost defence spending, estimating savings of £1.6bn. Kemi Badenoch accused the government of being slow to act on military deployments.
Blaming the previous Tory government for underinvestment and 'hollowing out of our armed forces'.
Military deployments and regional security developments include the UK military focusing on shooting down drones in the air, while the US targets missile launch sites in Iran. A runway at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus was hit by a drone, causing minimal damage. The Cypriot government suspects the drone came from the Iran-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Two Wildcat helicopters with the ability to hit drones are due to arrive in Cyprus on Friday. The government plans to send the warship HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Public opinion has shifted significantly, with Ipsos Mori polling released on Monday revealing that public concern about defense issues has more than doubled since last month, with 31% worried about UK defense (up 16%). Recent polling suggests the most common view among the British public is that the UK's stance in the conflict should be purely defensive. The government is currently planning to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by April 2027.
Keir Starmer is 'too scared to make foreign interventions' and that the UK is 'in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not'.
Economic implications are emerging, with energy bills set to fall to £117 next week as the price cap for April to June comes in. However, there are fears wholesale gas and oil prices could drive the cap up for July to September as the Iran conflict squeezes global energy prices. Experts have warned energy bills could rise by £160 if the war in the Middle East drags on. Downing Street had held talks on the potential of mass protests over the cost of living crisis following the war in Iran.
International criticism and diplomatic tensions have mounted, with Keir Starmer having been on an Easter break in Spain while Donald Trump issued stark warnings about potentially 'obliterating' Iran. A former Prime Minister of the Israeli Government delivered a grave warning to Sir Keir Starmer in a scathing takedown of his response to the Iran war. Commentator Adam Brooks claimed Sir Keir Starmer's Government has been 'completely compromised' and Britain is a 'sitting duck' to the rest of the world.
The Prime Minister was 'sitting on the fence' over the conflict in the Middle East.
An espionage case has added to the political turmoil, with Security Minister Dan Jarvis announcing that three people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China. One of the people arrested on suspicion of spying for China is the partner of a Labour MP.
Politically, Keir Starmer is expected to make Labour's decision not to go to war with Donald Trump against Iran central to the party's local election campaign. The Liberal Democrats called on ministers to give an urgent clarification of David Lammy's comments, accusing him of sliding towards full conflict.
I made the decision that it is not in our national interest to commit British forces to a war, without a clear legal basis and a clear plan – and I stand by that.
Legal and strategic unknowns persist in military decision-making. Uncertainties in defense spending and economic impact assessments remain. Intelligence gaps and military effectiveness questions are also unresolved.
The focus for Britain remains on keeping its people safe and safeguarding national interests.
I wasn't prepared for the UK to join a war unless satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan.
My government was delivering 'the biggest boost to defence spending since the Cold War'.
The government is cutting defence spending by £2.6bn this year.
The government needs to stop the missile sites and go to the source, not just stop the bullets.
I did not want to see 'troops on the ground'.
There was a legal basis that would allow RAF jets to strike Iranian missile sites.