Keir Starmer will face MPs today at PMQs after Donald Trump lashed out at him amid the spiralling Iran crisis.
The US President said the PM was “not Winston Churchill” after the initial decision not to allow American planes to launch the first strikes against Tehran from British bases.
Mr Starmer had later on Sunday agreed to allow America to use British military bases – but only for “defensive” strikes on Iranian missile sites to protect countries being targeted by Iran. He is yet to respond personally to the president’s latest attack but the conflict in the Middle East is likely to dominate PMQs from midday.
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Keir Starmer wasn’t the only politician Donald Trump attacked
During his Oval Office outburst yesterday, Donald Trump attacked Sadiq Khan and claimed “Sharia courts” operate in the UK as he lashed out over Britain being “uncooperative” over Iran.
Returning to his frequent target for attacks, London’s Labour Mayor, he said: “You have a terrible mayor of London. A terrible mayor. An incompetent guy. And you have Sharia Courts”.
The UK does not have ‘Sharia courts’. Some Muslim groups hold sharia councils, but similarly to Ecclesiastical Courts in the Church of England and Canon Law Tribunals in the Catholic Church, both of which also operate in the UK, they have no authority in law. Judaism, Hinduism and Sikhism also have voluntary arbitration tribunals similar to Sharia councils.
Middle East war threatens living standards growth
War in the Middle East threatens a growth in UK living standards for lower-income families, a think tank has warned today.
Overnight analysis by the Resolution Foundation of the Spring Statement found the nation is set for an increase in living standards this year, but the impact of conflict in the Middle East could see energy prices soar.
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced no new policies yesterday, but said her fiscal plan was “more necessary than ever before in a world of uncertainty” with the Iran conflict threatening economic stability. But the Office for Budget Responsibility indicated GDP will increase by just 1.1% in 2026, down from the 1.4% it forecast in November. The watchdog upgraded its forecasts for 2027 and 2028 from 1.5% to 1.6%.
Donald Trump lashed out at Keir Starmer in Oval Office meltdown
Donald Trump lashed out at Keir Starmer – branding him “not Winston Churchill” in a particularly grumpy Oval Office Q&A on Tuesday evening.
“I’m not happy with the UK either. That island that you heard about, the lease, for whatever reason he made a lease for the Island, someone came and took it away from them,” the US President told reporters.
He went on: “And it’s taken 3-4 days to work out where we can land, it would have been much more convenient landing there as opposed to flying many extra hours. This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.”
Mr Starmer or Downing Street has not responded to the comments.