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The US President has also been critical of Sir Keir Starmer for not supporting his offensive in the Middle East.
22:02, Sat, Mar 7, 2026 Updated: 22:06, Sat, Mar 7, 2026
Tony Blair rebuked the Prime Minister at a private lunch (Image: Getty)
Sir Tony Blair has criticised Sir Keir Starmer for failing to support US strikes on Iran. The former Labour leader rebuked the current Prime Minister, insisting he should have backed Donald Trump immediately after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Blair, who supported the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, made his feelings clear about the actions of the current administration while speaking at a private lunch on Friday (March 6). The 72-year-old said as the UK Prime Minister, no matter the ally, "you better show up". He added that the current conflict in the Middle East is "not like Vietnam" or the "Iraq campaign (where we sent) in thousands of British troops".
As reported by The Telegraph, Blair said: "I’m not saying anything to you that I wouldn’t and haven’t said to the Government. I think we should have backed America from the very beginning. They were asking us to use our bases for refuelling. It’s not like Vietnam. It’s not like, as we did in Iraq, sending in 1000s of British troops.
"So I think you’ve got to make the argument to the public that this American relationship matters. It matters particularly today. It’s not a question of whether it’s this president, that president, if they’re your ally and they’re an indispensable cornerstone of your security, you better show up."
Trump recently said Starmer is "no Winston Churchill" in a row over the refusal to allow the use of UK bases for US-Israel strikes on Iran. He told reporters at the Oval Office that he was "not happy with the UK" as the decision meant US planes had to fly "many extra hours".
The Prime Minister has since granted permission for the US to use UK bases. It was also reported earlier today (March 7) that the HMS Prince of Wales, a huge aircraft carrier, is readying for possible deployment to the Middle East.
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Trump appears to have declined Starmer's offer to station two aircraft carriers in the Middles East (Image: Getty)
The vessel, which can embark 36 F-35 fighter jets and four Merlin helicopters, has had its 10-day notice to move slashed in half to five days. Crews have also reportedly been alerted about potential deployment as the war in Iran rages on.
However, Trump remains unhappy and has appeared to decline the offer. He said on Truth Social that the UK is "finally giving serious thought" to sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but "we don't need them any longer".
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He wrote: "The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - but we will remember. We don't need people that join wars after we've already won!"
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary John Healey is reportedly set to ask Rachel Reeves for a cash injection to cover the increasing defence bill. The Chancellor is already under pressure due to increasing energy prices and borrowing costs.
English (US) · 