Kemi Badenoch: UK Being ‘Dragged Into’ Iran War – Starmer Under Fire
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has stated the UK is being “dragged into” the ongoing conflict with Iran “whether we like it or not,” following reports of missile launches targeting a joint UK-US base on Saturday morning. Badenoch criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer for what she described as a reluctance to fully support US actions.
Speaking on Times Radio, Badenoch asserted that Starmer had been “sitting on the fence” and attempting to downplay the situation. “He’s basically sat on the fence, hoped it would go away, and then when the news looks like it’s negative, he pretends that he actually made a decision,” she said. Badenoch further argued that Starmer’s position was a “pure political calculation.”
The attempted strikes targeted Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. According to reports, Iran fired two ballistic missiles, with one failing to launch and the other intercepted by a US warship. The incident occurred as the UK was considering a US request to utilize British military bases for potential strikes against Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the UK’s initial response, stating it was “a very late response” and “a surprise because the relationship has been so great.” He added, “They didn’t want us to use the [Chagos Islands] … I was a little surprised at the UK, they should have acted a lot faster.” The UK had previously granted the US permission to launch airstrikes from its territory against Iranian missile sites threatening regional allies.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) condemned Iran’s actions as “reckless attacks” and reiterated the UK’s commitment to defending its interests and allies. An MoD spokesperson stated, “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.” The spokesperson confirmed that British military assets, including RAF jets, were actively defending UK personnel in the region and that the government had authorized the US to use British bases for “specific and limited defensive operations.”
Downing Street confirmed discussions between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, focusing on the escalating conflict. A spokesperson stated that Sunak outlined the UK’s support for Bahrain, including the deployment of experts to counter drone attacks, and both leaders condemned Iran’s attacks on critical infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz. Sunak also informed the Crown Prince of the US use of UK bases for collective self-defence, including targeting Iranian missile capabilities.
Starmer also engaged in diplomatic efforts, speaking with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. A Downing Street spokesperson indicated that Starmer reaffirmed that RAF Akrotiri would not be used by the US to target Iranian missile sites, while emphasizing the importance of Cyprus’s security to the UK. Both leaders agreed that de-escalation remained the priority, acknowledging the potential economic impact of the ongoing conflict.
Badenoch, when questioned about potentially authorizing British aircraft participation in future strikes, indicated she would not have supported joining the initial strikes but would have expressed solidarity with the US, similar to the approaches taken by Canada and Australia.