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Prime Minister breaks silence on US-Israel strikes
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer explicitly distanced his government from the recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, stating in Parliament that Downing Street "does not believe in regime change from the skies."
Public disagreement with Trump
During a two-and-a-half-hour session answering MPs' questions, Starmer made clear his opposition to the strikes, suggesting they may not have been lawful. However, he defended the UK's decision to permit the US to use British airbases to target Iranian missile sites, arguing it was both lawful and necessary to protect Gulf allies.
The Prime Minister's stance marks a significant divergence from US President Donald Trump, representing one of the most consequential policy disagreements between the two leaders to date.
Iraq War shadows debate
References to the Iraq War, which concluded over a decade before Starmer entered Parliament, dominated discussions. The Prime Minister, a former senior lawyer, emphasized the importance of lawful action, a position that drew both support and criticism across the political spectrum.
Conservative shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson countered Starmer's view, arguing that UK involvement could be justified under international law.
Political reactions and public opinion
Most Labour MPs appear to back Starmer's judgment, though he faces criticism from multiple fronts. The Conservatives and Reform UK contend the UK should have offered stronger support to the US and Israel, while the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, and Scottish National Party have expressed varying degrees of criticism toward Trump's actions.
A recent YouGov poll indicates that a majority of Britons oppose both the US strikes and the UK's decision to allow the use of its airbases for the operation.
Economic update amid global tensions
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her Spring Statement later today, framing it as a non-fiscal event with no immediate tax or spending changes. Instead, the address will respond to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility, focusing on economic stability, cost-of-living reductions, and measures to curb borrowing and debt while fostering growth.
Recent economic indicators have shown signs of improvement, but the diplomatic fallout from Trump's recent actions has prompted last-minute revisions to Reeves's speech, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of the strikes.
