Keir Starmer blasts Trump with UK-US relations on brink - 'Not words I would ever use'
Sir Keir Starmer has furiously blasted Donald Trump over his threat to destroy Iranian civilisation, with UK-US relations becoming increasingly strained.The US President had chillingly threatened the death of Iranian civilisation, "never to be brought back again". The furious post on Truth Social came hours before a ceasefire deal was agreed with Tehran. Mr Trump's comments sparked fury from many, and it appears Sir Keir is far from happy either. Asked about Mr Trump’s use of expletives and phrases such as "praise be to Allah”, Sir Keir told ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston: "Let me be really clear and blunt about this. They’re not words I would use or would ever use because I come at this with our British values and principles foremost and uppermost in my mind." Addressing Mr Trump’s threats against a "whole civilisation", Sir Keir told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast: "Well, that’s why I say, I would never use those words and language like that myself – very important that I’m clear that the United Kingdom, we have our principles, we have our values, we will be guided by them."He added: "In the last few weeks, I’ve been saying we are not going to be dragged into this war because I say there must be a lawful basis – that matters."If you’re going to commit our service personnel to risk their lives, they need to know they’re doing so on a lawful basis."It’s not a question of remote international law – these are real people who take risks of their lives on our behalf."He wrote: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****n’ Strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP."Sir Keir Starmer has said Gulf leaders were "pleased to see a friend" during his visit to the Middle East.The Prime Minister added he detected a mood of "shock that they were attacked in the way that they were attacked – a genuine shock that they were attacked – they hadn’t been part of the attack on Iran and they’ve taken a lot of incoming missiles and drones".Sir Keir told ITV’s Talking Politics podcast: "There’s a relief that there is a ceasefire. I think a sense from them that it’s fragile, that there’s a lot of work to do on the ceasefire, and so, there is a sense of relief."I think that’s probably shared, or my sense, shared across the United Kingdom, where people have been very concerned of what they’ve seen on their television screens, very worried about the impact it might have on them."
