Sir Keir Starmer could end up allowing Donald Trump to use British bases to launch strikes on Iran, Harriet Harman has said.

Speaking to Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harman said this was despite the prime minister being part of a generation “shaped” by opposition to the Iraq War.

👉Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app👈

Baroness Harman was solicitor general when Sir Tony Blair decided to take Britain to war in Iraq alongside the United States in 2003.

She said the decisions made by Sir Tony would be “burning bright” in Sir Keir‘s mind.

“He’s part of the political generation of the Labour Party that grew up, which was shaped by its opposition to what Tony Blair was doing in relation to Iraq,” Baroness Harman said.

“So it would be a massive change for him.”

Asked if the UK could end up giving permission for US aircraft to use British military bases on Cyprus and Diego Garcia, but not go any further than that, Baroness Harman said: “Exactly”.

Read more:
‘Questions’ on legality of Israel’s actions in Iran
Donald Trump ‘may or may not’ strike Iran

Sky News reported on Thursday that Attorney General Richard Hermer has raised questions over whether Israel’s actions in Iran are lawful, potentially limiting what support he believes the UK could offer the US.

Baroness Harman said that for Sir Keir, the “rules-based international order is the most important thing”.

“If the attorney general says that the government can’t do something because it’s illegal, it can’t do it. So he’s in a very crucial position,” she added.

But Baroness Harman said it would be difficult for Sir Keir to say “thank you for the trade deal” to Mr Trump and then deny the president use of the airbases.

👉Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app👈

Remember, you can also watch us on YouTube!

👉 Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈

Is Donald Trump about to join Israel in attacks on Iran, and will he ask Keir Starmer to help him out? If he does – would it even be legal?

A lot has happened since Beth, Ruth and Harriet last got together, with further significant developments expected before a big NATO summit next week – a gathering we don’t even know if the US president will turn up to.

So how did we get to the point where we’re asking whether the UK will allow its ally – the US – to use its airbases? And how does the current situation compare to the invasion of Iraq in 2003?

Remember, you can also watch us on YouTube.