Sir John Major has attacked Donald Trump over the Iran war and accused Sir Keir Starmer of a “disgraceful” policy surrounding the president.
The former Prime Minister said President Trump Should have sought UN support for the war and claimed that it would not end hostilities in the Middle East.
In a harsh speech, Sir John also bitterly condemned US Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for their “shameful” attacks on Europe. nato.
Condemning the president’s tactics, Sir John said: “There was no diplomatic effort to get a UN resolution to legitimize the war. No country other than Israel was even consulted.”
“This was despite the fact that the war was destined to have wide-ranging impacts throughout the Middle East and beyond. Many countries would pay a price for this war.
“Hostilities will not end when the bombing stops. Old hatreds will persist. New hatreds will have been born. A new generation will have been radicalized. Retaliation can be avoided, but it is likely to come.”
In a lecture honoring Clement Attlee at King’s College London, the former prime minister said the objectives of the Iran war have never been clear and have been changing day by day since the conflict began.
“There is no exit strategy known,” he said. “The President demanded surrender. He is unlikely to get it.”
In contrast, Sir John praised his relationship with George HW Bush during the first Gulf War in 1990–91, saying he never held back in their discussions.
“But today, there is a tendency to walk quietly around the President to avoid upsetting him,” he said. “Although I understand it, I don’t agree with it.
“Sovereign states that degrade themselves will be seen as subordinates and not allies. This is no role for the UK.
“If we disagree with American policy we should say so – as a friend who cares about the well-being of an ally. Politicians do this in private‒ No in public.”
Sir John described the “new tone of America”, saying: “President Trump argues that America is being betrayed by trading partners and – without consultation – he raised tariffs on imports from the rich And Poor countries, whether friend or foe.
“When the Supreme Court struck down these as illegal, they re-imposed the usual 15% increase, using various powers that have not yet been tested in the courts.”
And he added: “The President’s dismissive attitude towards Europe, his demand for ownership of Greenland – the territory of a NATO ally – fueled uncertainty.
“And his expressed view was that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a problem solely for Europe. This is not the America we know.”
Sir John attacked Vice President Vance, who accused the Europeans of being a greater threat to liberty than Russia. “That was outrageous and absurd in equal measure.
“It was President Putin who sent Russian troops to invade Ukraine – not the other way around.”
he said when President Zelensky He was “ambushed” by President Trump when he visited the White House, yet when President Putin arrived in Washington he was greeted with a “red carpet reception”.
On NATO, Sir John said the Vice President had said on record: “I hate to bail out Europe again”, and the Defense Secretary was indifferent to “vague notions of international law” and “silly rules of engagement”.
“Such disregard for the law is a shameful example for a lawmaker,” he said.
On domestic UK politics, in an apparent reference to Reform UK, Sir John said that “populist rebels” seek to “divide rather than unite, creating conflict, trading on grievances and exaggerating evils”.
He further said, “They then hold minority groups of a different caste or religion responsible for those evils. This is ugly politics that should have no place in our country.”
“So – if you’re happy with the serious polling from Labor and the Conservatives – be careful what you wish for.”
He also said that MPs who defect should face by-elections and claimed that Brexit has cost Britain £100m a year in trade and £40bn in taxes, causing huge damage to the lives and livelihoods of the British people.
