Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

The UK deputy prime minister said it would be legal for the British military to conduct strikes directly on Iranian missile depots and launchers as he declared that “all operational capability is available” to protect British nationals.

David Lammy said on Friday that RAF jets could be lawfully deployed to hit targets within Iran to prevent the launch of attacks. At present the UK has given permission to the US to use British air bases to launch strikes.

“It is entirely legal to protect our people and protect our staff, and therefore all operational capability is available to us in those circumstances,” he told the BBC.

Asked if Britain could fire at an Iranian base in anticipation of the regime launching an attack, he said: “It is my understanding that that would be legal.” Lammy confirmed that the UK had the satellite and intelligence capabilities to identify Iranian sites.

A government insider insisted, however, that the remarks were statements of fact about the UK’s legal options rather than a pivot towards preparing for participation in strikes. A Downing Street spokesperson said Lammy’s remarks did not represent a change in the government’s position.

Lammy’s intervention came after UK defence secretary John Healey flew to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Thursday in a bid to quell criticism of Britain’s efforts to protect the island.

Healey did not rule out Britain joining strikes on Iran and stressed the importance of being able to adapt during war as circumstances change. “It is the nature of conflict that you never know what might develop and we are hugely strengthening our defences,” the defence secretary told the Daily Mirror.

British officials say that the UK government views the US strikes on Iranian missile sites as defensive, rather than offensive, in nature.

Recommended

Nonetheless, Starmer is facing pressure from hawks on the right of British politics. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for RAF strikes on Iranian missile sites and Nigel Farage, Reform UK’s leader, has claimed that Starmer’s “inaction” while the US and Israel attacked Iran was “frankly pathetic”.

Farage said he was set to dine at Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump’s resort in Florida, on Friday where he planned to reiterate criticism of another aspect of Starmer’s foreign policy, regarding the UK’s deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.

Trump has attacked Starmer over his approach to the Iran conflict, saying earlier this week that the UK prime minister was “not Winston Churchill” and that the US was “not happy” with Britain refusing to allow the American military to use British bases to launch the initial strikes on Iran last week.

Allies are also encouraging Britain to step up and do more to protect the Middle East. The UAE ambassador to the UK signalled on Friday that the Gulf state would like to see more support from London.

“We value the support and co-ordination the UK has given to us. But in times of crisis and challenge, and in times of war, we always welcome more support from those close friends and allies,” the ambassador Mansoor Abulhoul told Times Radio.

Cyprus has vocally criticised the UK over its lack of alacrity in sending defensive assets to protect the island. On Friday Lammy wrongly claimed to the BBC that “Cyprus is a Nato ally”. It is one of four EU nations that are not part of the 32-state alliance.

Lammy also mistakenly referred to a Typhoon jet as a “tycoon”. A Number 10 spokesperson said the prime minister retained confidence in him.