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Political Fix

Starmer on standby

Political Fix

Financial Times

Politics, News, News & Politics

4.21.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Will he? Won’t he? President Donald Trump has given little indication as to whether America will join in the conflict between Israel and Iran. So where does this leave the UK and its assets in the region? How does the prime minister play his hand with the president, and what does that mean for his relationship with his own party, especially given Labour's track record? Host George Parker is joined by the FT’s Middle East editor Andrew England, alongside regular guests Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green, to discuss Sir Keir Starmer's options.


Follow George on Bluesky or X: @georgewparker.bsky.social, @GeorgeWParker; Robert @robertshrimsley, @robertshrimsley.bsky.social; Miranda @greenmirandahere.bsky.social


What did you think of this episode? Let us know at politicalfix@ft.com  


Want more? Free links:   


Starmer puts UK cabinet on alert for potential US attack on Iran


The implosion of Iran’s ‘no peace, no war’ strategy 


Europe set for Iran talks as Trump signals 2-week window to decide on attack


Trump says he ‘may or may not’ strike Iran


To mark one year of the Labour government, Political Fix regulars Stephen Bush, Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green will be answering reader questions about what's coming next on July 3 at 1pm. Take part in our live Q&A by going to FT.com/labouryear. Sign up here for 30 days free of Stephen Bush's Inside Politics newsletter. 


Presented by George Parker, and produced by Lulu Smyth. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Manuela Saragosa. 


Read a transcript of this podcast on FT.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

I mean, you don't know that I'm going to even do it.

0:04.3

You don't know.

0:05.0

I may do it.

0:05.7

I may not do it.

0:06.6

I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do it.

0:08.7

You heard it straight out of the president's mouth.

0:11.7

Perhaps Mr. Trump doesn't even know if the U.S. is going to join the Israel-Iran war.

0:17.6

Welcome to political fix from the Financial Times with me, George Parker, at the end of another turbulent week in the Middle East.

0:25.4

And I'd better start with a timestamp because, well, anything could happen.

0:29.4

We're recording this at 5pm London time on Thursday.

0:33.1

So what does the Iran-Israel conflict mean for the UK for Britain's assets in the region,

0:38.7

for the Prime Minister's relationship with the President and his own party,

0:42.3

especially given Labour's track record?

0:45.1

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, was just wondering.

0:49.0

In 2003, we Liberal Democrats were incredibly proud to lead the campaign against the Iraq War,

0:56.0

a war in which the UK blindly followed the US in a move which was not backed by the United Nations.

1:03.3

Can the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that if President Trump does do this,

1:08.2

that today's Labour government will not blindly follow the US into war again.

1:14.3

Angela Rainer, standing in for Kyr Starma at Prime Minister's questions, didn't sound too keen.

1:20.2

One thing I will say is we agree with President Trump that Iran must never have nuclear weapons.

1:26.0

But we've been consistent in urging Iran to engage in the diplomatic

1:30.9

process and work with the United States. And we continue to support that diplomatic approach.

...

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