Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls to condemn Donald Trump’s shock takeover of oil-rich Venezuela, saying the UK would “shed no tears” about the end of Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
His comments, which will be seen as effective support for Mr Trump, came after the US President stunned the world by announcing it had captured President Maduro and was temporarily taking over the running of the South American country.
The prime minister had faced calls from Labour MPs and opposition politicians to oppose the US action, which included a large-scale military strike and explosions reported across the capital Caracas in the early hours of Saturday.
But in a statement Sir Keir said: “The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate president and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.”
He added: “I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
But in an interview recorded earlier on Saturday, with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, the PM refused to say whether President Trump had broken international law, saying that he need to “establish the full picture”.
Sir Keir said Britain had not been involved “in any way” in the attack. The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Venezuela. There are currently thought to be around 500 UK nationals in the country,
Earlier Labour MPs had called on the PM to condemn the US’s actions.
Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “Do we as a country still stand for international law and sovereignty?… This shameless attack is about seizing Venezuela’s resources. We must always defend international law.”
Richard Burgon, the Labour MP for Leeds East, said: “The Prime Minister should respond to an illegal bombing and kidnapping by Trump in exactly the way he would if Putin had carried it out.
“Either Keir Starmer believes in international law – or he doesn’t. You can’t pick and choose. Time to stand up to Trump’s gangster politics.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also said Sir Keir Starmer should condemn Trump’s “illegal action in Venezuela. Maduro is a brutal and illegitimate dictator, but unlawful attacks like this make us all less safe. Trump is giving a green light to the likes of Putin and Xi to attack other countries with impunity.”
Green Party leader Zack Polanski also accused the US president of believing he could “act with impunity”.
“The PM and Foreign Secretary should be condemning this illegal strike and breach of international human rights law,” he said.
But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said “nobody will shed tears” over Nicolas Maduro being “removed”.
She said: “We have always strongly condemned Maduro’s brutal and repressive regime and the Conservative government did not consider Maduro’s administration as legitimate. Nobody will shed tears for him being removed.
“We await the full facts about the US operation which has removed Maduro and we want to see the Venezuelan people enjoy democratic norms and freedoms.”
And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the US’s “unorthodox” military operation in Venezuela could prove a deterrent to future Russian and Chinese aggression.
In a post on X, he said: “The American actions in Venezuela overnight are unorthodox and contrary to international law – but if they make China and Russia think twice, it may be a good thing.
“I hope the Venezuelan people can now turn a new leaf without Maduro.”
This is a developing story, more follows…