Nigel Farage has branded Sir Keir Starmer‘s response to the Iran conflict as “frankly pathetic”. The Reform UK leader lashed out at the Prime Minister over his initial refusal to allow the use of British military bases to target Tehran.

He told a press conference: “I do believe the American president and the Israelis are right in what they are doing. I find the actions of our Prime Minister – or the inactions, perhaps I should say, of our Prime Minister – frankly pathetic.” Mr Farage said it was “something that the president has responded to already by saying that he is deeply disappointed”.

He added: “I do believe that Starmer’s actions don’t just threaten the special relationship, but probably he has posed, or did pose, a major threat to Nato.”

US President Donald Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Sir Keir for previously blocking the use of the UK-US Diego Garcia base to target Iran.

The PM announced late on Sunday that US forces would be allowed to operate from British bases against Iran, but only in a limited role targeting missile sites.

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Mr Trump highlighted the issues around the Diego Garcia joint military base in the Chagos Islands, which are at the centre of a diplomatic row between the UK, US and Mauritius.

He told The Telegraph: “That’s probably never happened between our countries before. It sounds like he was worried about the legality.”

Referring to Sir Keir’s change of position, he added: “It is useful. It took far too much time. Far too much time.”

The PM’s announcement came just hours before a drone hit the RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus.

He insisted the decision was fully in line with international law, and the Government has published a summary of its legal position setting out that it is acting in “collective self-defence”.