Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Keir Starmer's defence spending whilst simultaneously expanding US military operations from British bases without Parliamentary approval, creating what opposition MPs are calling a constitutional crisis.
The American President accused the Prime Minister of seeking to "join wars after we've already won" and questioned the need for Britain's aircraft carriers during a rambling press conference at the White House. Hours later, the Pentagon confirmed US forces are now using RAF Lakenheath and RAF Fairford for operations against Iran, according to Stars and Stripes.
As they say in Westminster, "the constitution is what happens"—precedent matters more than law. This particular precedent, however, has backbenchers from both sides demanding answers about Britain's role in a conflict Parliament never debated, let alone approved.
Trump's criticism focused on Britain's two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, which he described as "very expensive" and "not really needed." The assessment betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of Britain's maritime defence strategy whilst his own forces depend on British sovereign territory to project power into the Middle East.
The contradiction was not lost on Westminster. "We're apparently too militarised for the President's liking whilst simultaneously hosting his bombing campaign," one senior Labour backbencher told The Guardian on condition of anonymity. "Parliament deserves a vote before British bases become American forward operating positions."
/file/attachments/2991/P1Estellehantaviruscover_411095.jpg)
