Keir Starmer accused of ‘mimicking Trump’ with Middle East crisis TikTok post
PM justifies position on US-Israel war on Iran in social media post using the Dire Straits song Money for NothingKeir Starmer has been accused of trying to mimic Donald Trump’s social media output after posting a TikTok video about the crisis in the Middle East overlaid with the prime minister’s voice and the Dire Straits song Money for Nothing.The video opens with footage showing Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters flying over his head before cutting to British military jets in action and a drone being destroyed, as Starmer’s voice states the position he has taken on the conflict. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Badenoch presses Starmer to strike Iranian missile sites
RAF jets have been shooting down missiles fired by Iran, but are not taking part in strikes on its sites. [Continue Reading]
RAF jets could legally strike Iran’s missile bases, says David Lammy - UK politics live
Reform UK leader told a ‘Save Chagos Boat Party’ yesterday he would be raising the issue in his meeting with the presidentA second government charter flight to bring UK nationals back from the Middle East is due to depart Oman this evening, Downing Street has confirmed.Further flights are expected in the coming days and more than 160,000 British nationals have now registered their presence with the Foreign Office in the region.The deputy prime minister is sliding down the slippery slope to full conflict by backing direct UK strikes on military positions in Iran.We need an urgent clarification from number 10... [Continue Reading]
The Papers: 'PM vows to shield Brits' and 'Panic in Dubai'
Many of the papers have continued to focus on Sir Keir Starmer's response to conflict in the Middle East. [Continue Reading]
Starmer is facing a cocktail of dissent that is growing ever more potent
After the Greens’ byelection win, PM’s failure to make a progressive offer has angered Labour’s soft-left majorityBut for the Iran crisis, Labour’s first major policy announcement since the party’s calamitous defeat in the Gorton and Denton byelection would have been arguably the biggest political story of the week.Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, pressed ahead with what is intended to be the party’s full-throated answer to the competition it faces from Reform UK as she declared an end to permanent refugee status and the removal of state support from some asylum seekers. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Defence secretary accuses MPs of deliberately undermining UK’s relationship with Trump
John Healey lambasts opposition politicians for seeking to turn Donald Trump and the US against Keir StarmerUS-Israel war on Iran – live updatesThe defence secretary, John Healey, has accused opposition politicians of deliberately undermining the UK’s relationship with Donald Trump, saying it was “unpatriotic” for MPs to seek to turn the US against Keir Starmer.Healey, speaking to the Guardian at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone strike over the weekend, said he had been shocked at the way politicians like Nigel Farage had sought to “undermine” the UK’s relationship with the US. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
‘Best way forward’ for Iran would be negotiated settlement, says Starmer
PM defends decision not to join initial strikes by US and Israel and says UK is doing ‘everything we can’ to de-escalate situationMiddle East crisis – live updatesKeir Starmer has said the Iran conflict engulfing the Middle East could continue “for some time” as he urged Donald Trump that the “best way forward” in the longer term was a negotiated settlement with Tehran.The prime minister said the UK was doing “everything we can” to de-escalate the situation, a clear contrast to the US president, who is focused on regime change and has said it was “too late” for the Iranian... [Continue Reading]
UK says it will send fighter additional Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar and helicopters to Cyprus
British PM Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that he will be sending four more fighter jets to Qatar and anti-drone Wildcat helicopters to Cyprus amid the ongoing Iran war. [Continue Reading]
Starmer tries to reassure as Iran crisis deepens
The PM acknowledged people are worried about family abroad, the economy, and potential further escalation. [Continue Reading]
Delayed UK rescue flight takes off from Oman with British nationals
Keir Starmer describes Middle East evacuation operation as one of the biggest of its kindMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe first charter flight taking British nationals back to the UK from the Middle East has taken off as the prime minister described the ongoing evacuation operation as one of the biggest of its kind. Keir Starmer announced that the delayed plane from Oman, which was originally scheduled to leave at 7pm on Wednesday, had taken off minutes before he addressed a Downing Street press conference. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
REPLAY: UK PM Starmer holds press conference on Middle East war
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a press conference on Thursday afternoon to give an update on the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Britain's cautious response to the Iran crisis and a drone attack on its key military base in Cyprus have led to doubts among partners, including US President Donald Trump, about its military effectiveness. Starmer said Britain had the "right plan for defence" and had already been pre-deploying military equipment across the region before the start of the war. [Continue Reading]
Wales Senedd elections are a ‘referendum’ on Starmer, claims Farage
Party leader and Welsh counterpart launch Reform UK manifesto in NewportUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has described May’s Senedd elections as a “referendum” on Keir Starmer, as Reform UK gears up to battle Plaid Cymru for the chance to end a century of Labour dominance in Wales.Launching Reform’s election manifesto in Newport on Thursday alongside the party’s newly appointed Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, Farage said: “It’s a Welsh election, but I’m afraid, whether you like it or not, it doubles up as a referendum on Keir Starmer’s premiership. 7 May will end Labour dominance in Wales and in... [Continue Reading]
Senedd election is referendum on Starmer's leadership, says Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage helps the party launch its Senedd election manifesto, including a 1p income tax cut. [Continue Reading]
BBC says ‘irreversible’ trends mean it will not survive without major overhaul
In opening response to charter review, corporation points to ‘mismatch’ between TV licence rules and viewing habitsUK politics live – latest updatesThe BBC has said it is facing “permanent and irreversible” trends that mean it cannot survive without a major overhaul, as it revealed a stark divergence between the number of people consuming its content and those paying the licence fee.In its opening response to government talks over its future, the corporation said 94% of people in the UK continued to use the BBC each month, but fewer than 80% of households contributed to the licence fee. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Crypto investor based in Thailand donates further £3m to Reform
Christopher Harborne’s gift is latest to party’s election war chest and comes amid calls for cap on political donationsUK politics live – latest updatesChristopher Harborne has donated another £3m to Reform UK on top of his record £9m last summer.Nigel Farage’s party, which has been topping the polls for more than a year, brought in £5.5m in the last quarter of 2025 – outstripping all the other parties. It also included a £200,000 donation from JC Bamford Excavators – traditionally a Conservative donor – which gave the same sum to the Tories that quarter. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Delayed UK rescue flight due to leave Middle East on Thursday, says minister
Government-chartered plane was held up in Oman overnight for ‘operational reasons’, according to Alex NorrisUK politics live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe first government rescue flight from the Middle East failed to take off because of problems “getting passengers on board”, a minister has said.Technical issues meant the flight did not depart on Wednesday night from the Omani capital, Muscat. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Greens deputy leader calls for apology from Starmer over false claims that led to death threats
Mothin Ali fears for his life after anti-war protest was wrongly described as being in support of Iranian regimeThe deputy leader of the Green party has demanded an apology from Keir Starmer after the prime minister appeared to back false claims he protested in support of the Iranian regime, which led to him receiving death threats.Mothin Ali said he was “so scared” that the racist threats had increased to a point where “it feels like this time it might get me killed”. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
Cabinet ministers ‘blocked’ Starmer from letting US use British bases for military operation against Iran on Friday – UK politics live
PM also confirms that the first repatriation flight for Britons in the region has taken offShe says “we will always offer protection to genuine refugees” and outlines how the UK has taken in Ukrainian and Hong Kong refugees.She says “restoring control at our borders is not a betrayal of Labour values”. She says we must attract high-skilled workers. And that “the privilege of living in this country forever must be earned”. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
US did not share details with the UK before attacking Iran, sources say
Donald Trump has also criticised Keir Starmer’s initial decision not to allow the US to use UK military bases in the warThe US did not share exact operational details or timings with the UK before the joint strikes with Israel on Iran, sources have told the Guardian.The US decision to cut the UK out of the official loop on the airstrikes came alongside Keir Starmer’s decision to decline permission for the US to use British military bases for the operation. Continue reading... [Continue Reading]
UK government begins evacuation of citizens from Oman amid rising tensions in the Middle East
As tensions rise in the Middle East, the UK government has initiated the evacuation of its citizens from Oman. A government-chartered flight was reported to have departed from Muscat at around 7 PM UK time, marking the first of multiple evacuation efforts. This comes as the conflict in Iran continues to escalate, heightening safety concerns for British nationals in the region. In addition to this flight, eight commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates are also scheduled to depart for London. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that, following the initial flight, two more government-chartered flights are set to leave Muscat... [Continue Reading]
US and Israel conduct airstrikes on Iranian targets, destroying 11 naval vessels and impacting missile capabilities
In a significant escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, recent airstrikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets have resulted in the destruction of at least 11 naval vessels and substantial missile and nuclear capabilities within Iran. As these developments unfold, UK officials have indicated that Britain may consider participation in future strikes against Iran's ballistic missile launch sites, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region. Satellite images reviewed by BBC Verify revealed extensive damage to Iran's naval fleet following the coordinated US-Israeli strikes that began over the weekend. The attacks primarily targeted infrastructure at... [Continue Reading]
US-Iran military engagement strains diplomatic relations between US and UK amid Trump's criticism of Prime Minister Starmer
The uncertainty surrounding the ongoing military engagement involving the United States and Iran has significantly affected diplomatic ties between the United States and the UK. Tensions rose after President Donald Trump publicly criticized British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for failing to give adequate support for US operations against Iran. Trump remarked that the historical alliance between the US and Britain has deteriorated, declaring, "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with," an apparent jab at Starmer's hesitation to permit American warplanes to utilize UK bases for strikes against Iran. As reported, the military action began with the US... [Continue Reading]
Trump Reports Significant Impact of US-Iranian Military Engagements Amid Ongoing Airstrikes and Regional Tensions
In a significant escalation of military actions in the Middle East, President Donald Trump has reported the substantial impact of recent US-Iranian military engagements, asserting that Iran's naval and air capabilities have been largely "knocked out." These comments were delivered during a press briefing at the White House, amidst ongoing airstrikes by Israeli and US forces targeting various sites across Iran. The President's remarks come at a time when Iran is retaliating by striking back at satellite targets throughout the Gulf region, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. During the press conference, Trump noted that many of Iran's potential future leaders... [Continue Reading]
Tensions escalate in the Middle East following US and Israeli military actions against Iran after the death of Ayatollah Khamenei
Recent developments in the Middle East have escalated tensions dramatically, primarily due to the military actions undertaken by the United States and Israel against Iran. Following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a power vacuum has emerged, leaving the country and the region in a state of uncertainty. On March 1, Iranian forces launched drone attacks targeting energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, inciting retaliatory measures from the US and Israeli military forces. As the situation unfolds, US President Donald Trump has indicated that a larger wave of attacks on Iran is anticipated. In a recent... [Continue Reading]
Middle East geopolitical landscape shifts after reported killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has dramatically shifted following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The incident ignited a series of military operations led by the United States and Israel against Iranian assets, aiming not only to destabilize Iran's government but also to prevent its missile and nuclear capabilities. US President Donald Trump, in a public address, called on Iranians to reclaim their nation, underscoring ambitious objectives accompanying military efforts. The killing of Khamenei has left Iranian officials scrambling to manage repercussions. Reports indicate that many US intelligence officials harbor doubts regarding the likelihood... [Continue Reading]
Drone strike at RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus raises tensions between Western powers and Iranian forces
A recent drone strike at the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus has escalated the already heightened tensions between Western powers and Iranian forces in the Middle East. The attack occurred around midnight local time, or 22:00 GMT, just hours after the UK government confirmed that the US would be allowed to use British military bases for potential defensive operations against Iranian missile sites. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the incident, though initial assessments indicated only minimal damage to the base. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a statement confirming the attack and affirmed that investigations are underway to... [Continue Reading]
RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus targeted by suspected drone strike, no casualties reported according to UK's Ministry of Defence
A British RAF base in Cyprus, known as RAF Akrotiri, was targeted by a suspected drone strike recently, as announced by the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD). The attack occurred around midnight local time, approximately 22:00 GMT. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from the incident. The MoD confirmed that their force protection in the region remains at the highest level and that the base has activated its defensive measures in response to the strike. The drone strike comes shortly after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared that the UK would permit the United States to utilize British military... [Continue Reading]
UK Activates Emergency Evacuation Plans for Citizens Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
With rising tensions in the Middle East following recent US-Israeli military actions against Iranian interests, the UK Foreign Office has activated emergency evacuation plans for British citizens in the region. Approximately 200,000 British nationals are estimated to be currently present, including holidaymakers and business travelers, many of whom have become stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to closed airspace over Dubai. The UK government's decision to prepare an evacuation strategy underscores the volatility of the situation, amplifying the urgency for British citizens in the region to register their whereabouts. Keir Starmer, the UK Labour Party leader, has called for... [Continue Reading]
US and Israel Conduct Extensive Strikes on Iran, Prompting Retaliation Across the Middle East
In a significant escalation of military conflict, the United States and Israel launched extensive strikes on Iran, prompting immediate retaliatory actions by Iranian forces across the Middle East. This escalation unfolded early on a recent Saturday morning, particularly affecting areas such as Haifa, northern Israel, and various locations throughout the Gulf region, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the initiation of what he termed a "pre-emptive strike," asserting that the operation aimed to neutralize perceived threats to Israeli security. Following these actions, US President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged the commencement of "major combat... [Continue Reading]
