Now Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick rebukes Donald Trump for publicly ‘berating’ Keir Starmer – as he says Nigel Farage WOULDN’T have joined airstrikes on Iran
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has become the latest opposition politician to rebuke Donald Trump over his public criticism of Keir Starmer.
The US President has repeatedly hit out at the Prime Minister over his reluctance to provide greater assistance to America’s military assault on Iran.
Mr Trump has branded Sir Keir ‘no Winston Churchill’ and accused him of making a ‘big mistake’ in failing to be ‘supportive’ of the US and Israeli action against Tehran.
But Mr Jenrick said it was ‘not helpful’ to see Mr Trump hurling brickbats at the PM.
‘I don’t like to see our PM being berated by foreign leaders,’ the Reform MP told BBC Newsnight. ‘It’s not helpful to the Western alliance to see these arguments breaking out between them.’
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has also criticised Mr Trump for his frequent attacks on Sir Keir, saying it was ‘very childish’.
When the US President began his strikes on Iran, Reform leader Nigel Farage backed Mr Trump, his long-time friend, over the action and suggested the UK military should do more to help.
But Mr Jenrick insisted, if Mr Farage had been PM, he would not have sent RAF jets to take part in ‘offensive’ action against Tehran in support of the US and Israel.
Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick has become the latest opposition politician to rebuke Donald Trump over his public criticism of Keir Starmer
The US President has repeatedly hit out at the Prime Minister over his reluctance to provide greater assistance to America’s military assault on Iran
In an attempt to clear up confusion over Reform’s stance on the Iran conflict, Mr Jenrick said: ‘What we said from the outset was that it is correct that the joint bases that the UK and the US manage together – like Diego Garcia – should have been made available to the US for this operation.
‘Because the failure to do so has severely damaged the relationship, it has meant that we have been an unreliable ally and that has been harmful.
‘That is a different situation to saying that we should be engaged in offensive action against Iran in a war that we were not consulted on.’
Reform has been accused of U-turning over the Iran war in the wake of Mr Farage’s initial comments on the conflict, while there have been conflicting views from the party’s top figures.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice said the party – if it had been in government – would have said ‘yes’ to any requests for help by the US or Israel.
And Nadhim Zahawi, the former Tory chancellor who joined Reform in January, said Britain ‘should join the bombing if needed’.
Mr Jenrick, another ex-Conservative MP who has defected to Mr Farage’s party, suggested relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir were ‘broken beyond repair’.
But he expressed confidence the so-called ‘special relationship’ between the UK and US could be fixed under a fresh set of leaders.
‘It’s clear the relationship between Keir Starmer and President Trump has fractured, probably has broken beyond repair right now,’ he said.
‘What we have to do in the UK is act in our own national interests.
‘The US is an incredibly important ally and the relationship will no doubt last after these particular personalities have long left office.
‘I don’t want to see British airmen and women over the skies of Iran engage in offensive action.
‘I think you’ve got to be incredibly cautious before you deploy British servicemen and women in danger.’
