Starmer says he won’t yield to US pressure over Iran, as Davey warns against the King’s planned state visitpublished at 12:28 BST
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey says US President Donald Trump, in a call with Sky News yesterday, threatened to “rip up” his trade deal with UK “as punishment for us not joining his idiotic war in Iran”.
“Surely the prime minister can’t send our King to meet a man who treats our country like a mafia boss running a protection racket,” Davey says.
Starmer says the UK is “not going to get dragged into this war” in Iran. “I’m not going to change my mind, I’m not going to yield,” he says.
In relation to the King’s visit, he says the purpose is to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, and the relationship it has with Britain.
The monarchy “is an important reminder of the longstanding bonds” between the two countries, says Starmer.
Media caption,
UK-US bonds ‘far greater than anyone who occupies any particular office’ – PM
