Keir Starmer insists Iran conflict ‘not our war’ as he blasts Reform chief Nigel Farage

Keir Starmer lashed out at the ‘terrible judgement’ of Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, who he said would have sent Britain to war – telling supporters the conflict is ‘not our war’

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Keir Starmer launching Labour’s local election campaign(Image: Getty Images)

Keir Starmer has insisted the Iran conflict is “not our war” as he hit out at Reform chief Nigel Farage and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s flip-flopping.

It came as the Prime Minister fired the starting gun on Labour’s local election campaign in Wolverhampton. He insisted Britain will not be dragged into the US-Israeli war with Tehran, and warned his rivals’ “terrible judgement” would already have embroiled the UK in the conflict.

Mr Starmer will haul in energy industry chiefs on Monday, and is set to hold a Cobra meeting on Tuesday to discuss the impact on the cost of living. The Prime Minister said: “It’s really important I reiterate where I stand and where this government stands because this is not our war. And we are not going to be dragged into it.”

He added: “Yes of course we will defend British lives and interests in the region – we’ll stand by our allies in the Gulf region. But we’re not going to get dragged into it. That’s my values, that my principles and that’s what we’ve applied to our decisions whatever the pressure and whoever it’s coming from.

“But what a contrast – if you took Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage. What did they want to do? They wanted to go straight in with both feet into the war without thinking through the consequences. They are in opposition at the moment – maybe that doesn’t matter very much.

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Nigel Farage criticised the PM for not falling in behind Donald Trump(Image: PA)

“But it’s terrible judgement because taking your country is the single most important decision a Prime Minister could ever take. If they had been in government we’d be in a war with no plan.”

Reform UK leader Mr Farage initially hit out at the Government for failing to join the initial wave of US-Israeli strikes. And Mrs Badenoch fumed at PMQs as she urged Mr Starmer to fall behind Trump: “We are in this war whether they like it or not. What is the PM waiting for?” Both have since backtracked as uncertainty grows about what will happen next.

The PM refused to allow the use of British bases for strikes on Iran on February 28. The move infuriated Trump, who has since launced a string of vicious attacks on the UK and its Nato allies, who have also kept out of the conflict.

Mr Starmer has since allowed UK facilities to be used for “defensive” strikes targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure, and on sites attacking the vital Strait of Hormuz. The shipping route, which transports 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas, has been blocked since the initial strikes.

This has sparked fears of petrol shortages, which could drive up inflation across the globe. Last week Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government is looking at measures to support those worst affected, but insisted there would be no blanket scheme if the conflict continues.

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The Prime Minister turned his fire on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch(Image: PA)

Asked about Monday’s meeting, the PM told broadcasters: “We are bringing together the shipping sector, insurance and energy, because obviously that’s a focus of concern. A lot of discussion about the Strait of Hormuz and what we can do to get the straits open, which is the single most effective way to bring energy prices down.

“I will have a Cobra tomorrow, another Cobra, to look at the economic impacts of the war and making sure that everything that we need to have in place, everything is monitored and audited properly.”

Pressed on whether petrol rationing was being considered, as it has in other European nations, the Prime Minister insisted the advice to motorists is that there was “no need to do anything other than what is normal”.

Mr Starmer’s comments come as Labour braces for its biggest electoral test since the 2024 general election on May 7 with over 5,000 council seats up for grabs across England. Voters will also elect new devolved adminstrations in Wales and Scotland as Labour’s braces for a bruising night across the board.

But launching the party’s fight back, the Prime Minister told voters the government ‘has your back’ in a volatile world with conflicts raging in the Middle East and Ukraine. He talked up “Labour values” and hit out at those who would use the conflict in Iran to “whip up even more division”.

The PM touted the Government’s policies as showing it is an administration that “bears down on the cost of living”. He said: “Some will use, sadly, the conflict in Iran to whip up even more division in our country and our society.

“If you can believe it, they barely need a reason. We saw Nick Timothy at it last week complaining about Muslims praying in public. We see so many examples, but people will use this to try and tear the country further apart. It’s really important that we assert our Labour values here, as we go into campaign, our Labour values about how we bring people together, how we understand the importance of place and the pride that people put in the place that they come from.”