During PMQs, Keir Starmer warned he will ‘not yield’ as he suggested Donald Trump had been trying to pressure him over the UK’s stance on the conflict in the Middle East
Keir Starmer has warned he will not change his mind on the Iran war after Donald Trump lashed out at the UK again.
The PM, who was asked about the US President’s latest threat to Britain over a trade deal, warned he will “not yield” as he suggested Mr Trump had been trying to pressure him over the UK’s stance on the conflict.
Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised the UK after Mr Starmer refused to jump into supporting US/Israeli military action in the Middle East. Overnight, the US President hit out at the “sad” state of the US-UK special relationship
During PMQs, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey asked the PM about Mr Trump’s threat “to rip up his trade deal with the UK as punishment for us not joining his idiotic war in Iran”.
He told Mr Starmer that this must be the “last straw” and that No10 should cancel King Charles’s state visit to the US next month. “Mr Trump is the most unpredictable President in history and I hope he will not embarrass the monarch.,” he added.
READ MORE: Donald Trump threatens UK and lashes out at ‘sad’ state of special relationship
Mr Starmer replied: “My position on the Iran war has been clear from the start. We’re not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war. A lot of pressure has been applied to me to take a different course and that pressure included what happened last night.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war. We will not do so. I know where I stand.
“In relation to the King’s visit, the purpose of the visit is to mark the 250th anniversary of relations and independence, obviously, of the US. The monarchy is an important reminder of the long standing bonds and enduring relationship between our two countries, which a far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.”
In an interview with Sky News overnight, Mr Trump said he liked Mr Starmer, but hit out at the UK government’s policies on energy and immigration. According to the broadcaster, Mr Trump first reportedly replied “with whom” when asked how he would describe the special relationship right now.
He then said: “How is the relationship? It’s the relationship where: when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there. When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there.”
The US President then warned: “Well it’s been better, but it’s sad. And we gave them a good trade deal, better than I had to, which can always be changed.” He also said of the PM: “I like Starmer – but I think he’s made a tragic mistake in closing North Sea oil. You see your energy prices are the highest in the world.”
Pressed whether the strained relationship will overshadow the King’s Royal visit to the United States later this month, he replied: “No. Not at all. I’ve known the King for a long time and he is not involved in that process.”