Sir Keir Starmer has warned Britain would have been “in a war without a plan” if Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch were in power, as he fights for votes ahead of the crunch local elections.
In his pitch to voters ahead of what is expected to be a devastating set of election results in May, the prime minister will double down on his own approach to the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
The prime minister has repeatedly said he “won’t be dragged in” to US military action on Iran, but will tell voters that both the Reform UK and Conservative leaders would have “jumped into this war with both feet”.
Appearing in Labour’s first Party TV broadcast ahead of May’s local elections, he will accuse his critics of “offering anger or easy answers”, while promising to deliver on key issues such as easing the cost of living crisis.
“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,” he will say.
“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.”
Despite Sir Keir’s approach to the outbreak of war proving popular amongst voters, Labour is expected to face a crushing defeat at the polls in May.
Pollsters have warned the party is facing a “very substantial threat” as it continues to lose voters to both Reform on the right and the Greens to the left, in a blow which could spell the end of Sir Keir’s leadership.
After accusing his opposition of U-turning on their stance on Britain’s involvement in the war, Sir Keir will say: “I’m not going to be pressurised to change my view.”
Mrs Badenoch has previously accused Sir Keir of being “too scared to make foreign interventions for fear of upsetting a tiny section of the electorate”, saying he took time “consulting lawyers, plucking up the courage to say whose side he was on”.
Later asked to clarify her position, the Conservative leader told the BBC her party backed the US and Israel’s actions but added: “I never said we should join.”
Sir Keir later accused Mrs Badenoch of making “the mother of all u-turns” on the issue, which he called the single most important decision a prime minister ever has to take”.
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s own stance on the war has sparked confusion.
Mr Farage told a press conference in March that, after RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a drone, “the gloves need to come off”. He said: “We need to accept that we’re part of this with the Americans, with the Israelis.”
Later the same month, Mr Farage said: “If we can’t even defend Cyprus, let’s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war.”
Sir Keir will add in the TV broadcast: “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.”
Sir Keir has refused to bow to US pressure over his handling of the outbreak of war with Iran, a stance which has proved to boost his popularity rating amongst voters.
According to a recent JL Partners survey for The Independent, his rating was found to increase by 26 points when voters are reminded of his fallout with Donald Trump.
The UK has granted permission for the US to use British military bases to carry out limited defensive operations, only targeting Iran’s missile sites and facilities being used to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route.
On Tuesday, Downing Street again said the UK’s focus was on “de-escalation” and a “negotiated settlement” for the region after Mr Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric and the US-Israeli bombing campaign continued.
The US president has given Tehran until 1am on Wednesday UK time to end its blockade of the strait or face obliteration, writing on Truth Social: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”