Starmer: Farage and Badenoch’s rush to war would have had “huge consequences” for families at home
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer will this evening take aim at Nigel
Farage and Kemi Badenoch for their reckless decision to back the
war in Iran without thinking through the consequences – including
on the cost of living. Farage and Badenoch initially wanted to
throw Britain headfirst into war with Iran and have since u-turned
on their position as the consequences of the conflict at home and
abroad began to emerge. On 2 March, after the US-Israeli action
first began,...Request free trial
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will this evening take aim at Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch for their reckless decision to back the war in Iran without thinking through the consequences – including on the cost of living. Farage and Badenoch initially wanted to throw Britain headfirst into war with Iran and have since u-turned on their position as the consequences of the conflict at home and abroad began to emerge. On 2 March, after the US-Israeli action first began, Badenoch warned the government that there was “no point wanting action to make the world a safe place while being too scared to stand by and watch others”. Two days later, the Tory Leader told Labour MPs: “we are in this war whether they like it or not. What is the Prime Minister waiting for?”. Less than a week later, Badenoch u-turned, saying she “never said we should join” the war. On 2 March, Reform Leader Nigel Farage said Britain should do “all we can to support the operation”, before undertaking a humiliating u-turn just over a week later, while appearing to criticise the state of British Armed Forces in the process, stating the military could not “offer anything of value” to the operation. Appearing in Labour's first Party TV broadcast ahead of May's local elections, the Prime Minister will focus on the key issue facing voters: easing the cost of living crisis, and underline that it remains the central priority of his government, particularly in light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, will say: “You don't get a second chance at decisions like this. There are huge consequences both abroad and at home, and of course for our brave Armed Forces. “Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch would have jumped into this war with both feet without thinking through the consequences. “Now in opposition, that may not matter very much. But if they'd been in Government, we would be in a war without a plan.” Addressing the concerns of families across the country about the impact of the war on the cost of living, the Prime Minister will reaffirm his commitment to working with allies to “deescalate and bring this conflict to an end”. The Labour Leader will also highlight the immediate action his government has taken to support household finances – including reducing energy bills by an average of £117 last week, providing over £50 million in support for those who rely on heating oil, and freezing fuel duty until September. The Prime Minister will add: “In these uncertain times, there are plenty of people offering anger or easy answers. “I'm not going to be pressurised to change my view. I'm the British Prime Minister and it's Britain's national interest, protecting you and your family, that determine every decision that I make. “Whatever other people say, whatever the criticism, that's my focus.” Ends Notes:
Badenoch's u-turn on Iran:
“There is no point wanting action to make the world a safer place while being too scared to do anything except stand by and watch others. Our national interest and national security must be front and centre. The Conservative party will always work with our allies to make the world a safer place.” Kemi Badenoch, Hansard, 2 March 2026, https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-03-02/debates/C3BE6001-08B4-4DF8-8193-A4BFF0C57E9B/MiddleEast
“In case Labour MPs do not realise, the fact is that our bases have already been attacked. Iran is trying to kill our servicemen and women, and the Prime Minister is catching arrows rather than stopping the archer. That is what we are talking about. Why is he asking our allies to do what we should be doing ourselves? I say to Labour MPs that we are in this war whether they like it or not. What is the Prime Minister waiting for? Kemi Badenoch, Hansard, 4 March 2026, https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-03-04/debates/13322AC4-D224-4407-B737-2FEB75AD5866/Engagements#contribution-0CFA85C2-6FB6-44B2-BFB4-998057DDC8B4
“Last week's by-election has spooked the Labour party. They watched the Greens campaigning on sectarian voting lines, a tactic that Labour have used for many years is now being turned against them. And now, Keir Starmer is too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of the electorate. Everyone remembers the mistakes of the Iraq war. Nobody sensible is suggesting that we should drop bombs without a second thought. But Keir Starmer spent days consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on. Canada and Australia had the moral clarity to do so immediately and unequivocally. And even now, our Prime Minister is sitting on the fence. We are in this war whether Keir Starmer likes it or not.” Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party Spring Conference: https://www.conservatives.com/news/kemi-gives-keynote-speech-at-spring-conference
PRES: Is it coherent to call for the UK to join the war to not question the end game strategy and at the same time complain about rising energy bills? KB: No, that's not what I've done. I have been very clear that our government should be thinking ahead. We had a spring statement last week where the Chancellor knew that there was going to be an oil price shock and said absolutely nothing about it. That's why I'm saying that she needs to stop the fuel duty increase, which she's planning in September. PRES: Sorry I'm confused. You did say, though, that the UK should join… you did say that the UK should be there in support of the United States and Israel. KB: So I said that we support their actions. I never said we should join. I did say that where British bases are being attacked, we should do more than catch the arrows. We should stop the people who are attacking us. Stop the archer. PRES: Just so we're clear, what does that actually mean? KB: Please don't confuse those two things. They're quite different things. PRES: But for people who've not seen your comments, what does that actually mean? Does that mean strikes on Iran? How else do you stop the missiles incoming to UK bases? KB: So, when missiles are being fired, the launchers which are kept deep underground come out. If you take out the capacity, that means that they will stop sending missiles over. So don't just catch the arrows. Stop the Archer. If all you do is try and catch arrows you will get hit. I haven't said that we should have gone in with the US and with Iran. Although I do say that when it comes to the two sides, I will always be on the side of the US and Israel, not Iran. That doesn't mean that we should join… that we should join those strikes. It's very, very important that we let people know what is going on. The government is trying to muddy the waters and stop criticism. I will not accept that - I'm going to do my job and make sure that they are held to account. Farage's u-turn on Iran:
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