𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A minister has dismissed Donald Trump’s claim that Sir Keir Starmer is no “Winston Churchill”, arguing that the Prime Minister had approached the situation with a “cool head, a real clarity of purpose” and “a determination to do the right thing for the British people”.

Asked whether the US president was right to say this, Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray said: “No, look, President Trump has expressed his disagreement with the decision that we took about joining those initial strikes on Iran over the weekend.

“But I think what’s really important when we think about that decision is to recognise that the Prime Minister took the decision he did in the national interest, you know, and he’s approached this with a cool head, with a real clarity of purpose, with a real focus and a determination to do the right thing for the British people.

“That’s why we took the decision we did not to join those offensive actions, the initial strikes, a few days ago, but then when it came to a defensive action in order to protect British citizens, we stepped up and made sure that we are doing what we need to do to keep British people safe.”

Asked whether he did not think Mr Trump’s remarks were important, he said: “Well, I think, you know, the president has expressed himself using his words, but what’s important for me is that the Prime Minister is taking the right decisions for the UK, and, of course, that the special relationship between the US and the UK continues. You know, we work together with the US, day in, day out.”