Tony Blair slammed over intervention in 'illegal' war on Iran

The former prime minister told an event hosted by Jewish News on Friday: “They were asking to use our bases to refuel … It’s not like it was in Vietnam … not like the Iraq campaign where we had thousands of British troops … It’s not a question of whether it’s this president or that president.

"If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security … you had better show up.”

Tony Blair

A spokeswoman for Blair told The Times that the comments had been made at a private event and were not intended to be made public.

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana hit out at the UK's involvement in the US and Israel's war on Iran, which she said was "illegal" - as she also criticised former prime minister Blair, who led the UK into war in Iraq.

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"It's really interesting that the likes of Tony Blair are getting involved, saying that Keir Starmer should unconditionally support the US," she said.

"If there was any justice in the world, he would be on trial at The Hague for the death of 100,000 Iraqis."

Zarah Sultana speaks at a demonstration at the US Embassy in London on Saturday to call for an end to attacks on Iran (Image: Maja Smiejkowska)

Sultana also hit back at the UK Government's claim that the US military is using UK military bases for "specific defensive operations", after four US bombers landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire overnight on Friday and into Saturday.

The Your Party MP said: "This is not about defensive operations, this is full-scale war, and we have given our complete endorsement by providing our bases, our typhoons, our assets in the Middle East."

Elsewhere on the programme, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was asked if the UK is at war.

She responded: “We are providing defensive support in a conflict, and that is, I think, the way to describe it.”

Cooper also refused to confirm whether aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will be deployed to assist in the crisis in the Middle East.

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It comes after the Ministry of Defence said it was increasing the preparedness of HMS Prince of Wales and reducing the time it would take to set sail, but that no decisions have been taken to deploy the warship.

And speaking on Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the Foreign Secretary said she "disagreed" with Blair's comments.

“There are some people in politics who think that we should always agree with the US whatever," she said.

“There are other people in politics who think we should never take action with the US again whatever the circumstances. I don’t think either of those positions is in the UK national interest, and it is the responsibility for Keir Starmer to act in the UK’s national interest for British citizens.”

Asked if she was calling Blair “a poodle”, she said: “I think the point is to make sure that, actually, we learn the lessons from some of the things that went wrong in Iraq, and I think that is exactly what Keir Starmer has done.”

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