Trump says Starmer 'no Churchill' in airbase row

Donald Trump launched a deeply personal attack on Keir Starmer yesterday over his refusal to allow the US to launch initial strikes on Iran from British bases, telling reporters: "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with.

- Pippa Crerar Jessica Elgot

In his latest extraordinary salvo, the US president said he was not happy with the UK even though the prime minister eventually agreed the US could use Diego Garcia for strikes on Iranian missile facilities.

It was the third time in 24 hours that Trump had criticised Starmer for the UK's refusal to aid the initial strikes, underlining the US president's frustration at western allies for not unequivocally backing the action.

He told the Sun newspaper on Monday the "relationship is obviously not what it was" as a result of the decision, and in an interview with the Telegraph he said Starmer had taken "far too long" to allow the US to use UK bases.

Starmer has previously been praised for his ability to maintain a positive relationship with the volatile US president but on Monday in the Commons the prime minister expressed doubt about the US action in Tehran and its legality.

He issued his strongest rebuke yet of Trump's action, saying the UK did not believe in "regime change from the skies" and defended his decision not to allow the use of British bases to conduct the strikes.