Starmer 'not going to yield' to pressure from Trump on Iran war

It follows a warning from the US president that America’s trade deal with the UK “can always be changed”. It follows a warning from the US president that America’s trade deal with the UK “can always be changed”.

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It follows a warning from the US president that America’s trade deal with the UK “can always be changed”.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “not going to yield” to pressure from the US president to join the conflict in Iran.

It comes after Donald Trump told Sky News that when the US asked the UK for help “they were not there”. He also suggested the trade deal with the UK “can always be changed”.

Starmer told the Commons: “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 and we will not do so.”

Trump has persistently criticised Starmer after he refused to join offensive measures in the US-Israel war against Iran when it began in late February.

Starmer was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey about Trump’s latest comments.

He told Prime Minister’s Questions: “My position on Iran 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 and we will not do so. I know where I stand.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves had already expressed frustration at what she called Trump’s “folly” in starting the war without a “clear exit plan”.

She told The Mirror on Tuesday: “This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve.”

Reeves added: “Obviously no sensible person is a supporter of the Iranian regime, but to start a conflict without being clear what the objectives are and not being clear about how you are going to get out of it, I do think that is a folly and it is one that is affecting families here in the UK, but also families in the US and around the world.”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast that the UK will be the hardest hit advanced economy as a result of the conflict.

Reeves is in Washington where she is attending the IMF’s spring summit.

In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF cut its estimate for UK growth this year to 0.8%, from the 1.3% prediction made in January before hostilities began.

The IMF suggested the UK, as a net importer of energy, remained sensitive to rapid rises in energy prices.

In his interview with Sky News, Trump was asked how he would describe the special relationship betwee

— Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says Donald Trump has threatened to rip up the trade deal with the UK because of the government’s stance on the war.

Davey says this is the last straw. The state visit must be called off.

Starmer says a lot of pressure has been applied to him, including what happened last night. He says he will not yield. “I know where I stand,” he says.

But he says the state visit should go ahead. He says it will support links that last beyond who is in power at any one time.

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, and 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, and we will not do so.

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 are far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office at any particular time.