Keir Starmer ‘desperately trying to regain credibility’ following Donald Trump’s Iran ceasefire, says James Cleverly

Marcus Donaldson
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:24:52 +0000

Keir Starmer has been accused of “desperately trying to regain credibility” with a visit to the Gulf following President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with Iran by Sir James Cleverly.

Speaking to GB News, the Shadow Housing Minister slammed the Prime Minister’s “slow and indecisive” response to the conflict.

Sir Keir is travelling to the Middle East to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire” after President Trump announced a two-week pause in hostilities with the Islamic Republic.

When asked about his visit, Sir James was unimpressed and called the move “not really news”.

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“The Prime Minister is desperately trying to regain some credibility.”

“Having been slow and indecisive throughout this situation, he's changed positions,” the top Tory slammed.

“He was opposing the United States using their own aircraft from British bases. Then he was in favour of it. He delayed the decision to deploy British naval assets.

“He left British military personnel and our allies in the region not properly defended, and now he's finally engaging properly with this situation."

The Shadow Housing Minister argued this apparent indecision had damaged Britain’s reputation around the world.

“Unfortunately, he has cost this country credibility on the world stage.

“I know a lot of our friends and allies in the region and beyond are very disappointed in Britain's response. And that is entirely because of decisions that Keir Starmer failed to make,” he savaged.

According to Sir James, the chief among those disappointed was President Trump, leaving the UK’s special relationship with the US now in danger.

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“It's quite clear now that President Trump does not respect Keir Starmer at all,” he told The People’s Channel.

“He was shown to be indecisive: sycophantic and desperately trying to win favour with the US President when he went to America, then came back to the UK to try and sound tough at the dispatch box.

“You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth,” the Tory minister said.

Regarding the relationship between the Prime Minister and Mr Trump, Sir James said it was now “beyond repair”.

Sir James feared this would have repercussions for the special relationship.

“The wider diplomatic, defence and intelligence system has always had a very strong relationship with the United States of America.

“I worry that that system-to-system relationship has been damaged, because Keir Starmer basically is such a weak and ineffective leader,” the Housing Minister slammed.