Kemi Badenoch tells GB News Keir Starmer is 'held hostage by left-wing backbenchers' in furious takedown

Over the past week since the war began, critics have claimed the historic special relationship between the UK and US is under strain after Labour initially denied US military bombers access to UK bases.

Although Sir Keir has since changed his mind on the matter, the Prime Minister has been slated for his initial response on the spiralling conflict from critics - including his own backbenchers.

Speaking in Harrogate from her party's Spring Conference, Mrs Badenoch told GB News: "Keir Starmer is a hostage to the left wing backbenchers. All of those silly MPs, the ones who play student politics, are in charge now.

"That's who's running the country. They are absolutely terrified of standing up for this country.

"Those are the people who are running the Labour Party and Keir Starmer is their hostage. He doesn't want to upset them.

"They have people who have the wrong priorities, never stand up for this country. There are people there who would be mourning the Ayatollah if they if they wouldn't get in trouble for it.

"And what Keir Starmer needs to do is grow a backbone. Stand up to the left wing of his party and support our troops. They deserve our support right now."

She added: "What Labour has done has been so bad for our reputation.

"We have allies like Greece, France sending ships to the Mediterranean. HMS Dragon is still in Portsmouth.

"That is Labour in action. Just sitting there. Keir Starmer on Wednesday at PMQs. What did he say? That he was doing everything he could.

"Why do we still have a warship in Portsmouth? Countries like Bahrain and Cyprus where we have put British bases on their soil are wondering where we are.

"Why are we not defending them fully? And I don't understand how Keir Starmer can still be sitting on the fence at the moment, saying all he will do is wait for missiles to be launched and catch them.

"Nobody wants a war escalating, but we are in this war, whether we like it or not. We didn't start it.

"What Keir Starmer should be doing now is stopping those missiles from even leaving in the first place. That does mean targeting the missile launch sites."

Since the start of the strikes last Saturday, a slew of Labour MPs, including party bigwig and former Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry, have condemned the US-Israeli bombing.

Ms Thornberry said: "I am pleased to see the UK is not involved in these strikes on Iran.

"They are ill-advised and illegal. We will be hit by the consequences though and need to prepare for chaos in the region, with shipping lanes, oil facilities and military bases (including our own) being attacked."

Meanwhile, backbencher Richard Burgon echoed a similar sentiment, while former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised the US President's actions.

Overnight, new waves of attacks launched across the region took place while the conflict between America, Israel and Iran continues to spiral.

This morning, US President Donald Trump said Iran could face "complete destruction and certain death" and promised the regime could be "hit very hard" today.

Issuing the extraordinary threat, he said: "Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle East neighbours, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore.

He added: "Iran is no longer the “Bully of the Middle East,” they are, instead, “THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,” and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!

"Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, because of Iran’s bad behaviour, are areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time."

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