Lib Dem MP demands UK steer clear of Trump attack on Iran

At this week’s Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper delivers a pointed and passionate intervention, urging the UK government to resist any pressure to support US military action against Iran.

In the wake of inflammatory rhetoric from former US President Donald Trump and rising tensions in the Middle East, Cooper calls on Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to learn from history — and to ensure the UK does not blindly follow the United States into another conflict without scrutiny, strategy, or legal justification.

Drawing a clear line between the present moment and the lead-up to the Iraq War, Cooper reminds the chamber of the catastrophic consequences of the UK’s involvement in the 2003 invasion. She highlights the lack of due diligence, the manipulated intelligence, and the long-term instability that followed. With echoes of that era resurfacing in Washington, Cooper demands a commitment from the government to uphold international law, seek Parliamentary approval, and prioritise diplomacy over escalation.

Rayner responds by acknowledging the gravity of the situation and reiterates the government’s commitment to a cautious and evidence-based foreign policy. But Cooper presses further, arguing that silence or ambiguity from Downing Street could once again lead Britain down a dangerous path.

This moment captures the enduring importance of Parliamentary scrutiny in matters of war and peace, and the Liberal Democrats' long-standing opposition to unmandated military intervention.

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