Former Army General Major Mike Shearer has hit out at Keir Starmer’s inaction in the wake of Ali Khamenei’s death.
Speaking on GB News, Mr Shearer branded Sir Keir a “zombie PM” in a scathing analysis of his response.
The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump yesterday after the US and Israel launched strikes across several Iranian cities.
Sir Keir said in a statement earlier that British planes were “in the sky” in the Middle East as part of a defensive operation “to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
He also released a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany on Saturday, urging Iran not to launch “indiscriminate military strikes” in response.
Major Shearer told the People’s Channel he was frustrated with Sir Keir’s lack of action since the confirmation of the Ayatollah’s death.
“I want our zombie Prime Minister to ewake up right now and proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as terrorists and go and gather them up”, he said.
“MI5 knew who these people are and now you will watch over this weekend and over the next days that protests will be organised by sleeper IRGC agents. I want them lifted.
Major Mike Shearer branded Sir Keir a ‘zombie PM’
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GB NEWS / PA
“If there is a civilian injured in this city or worse, the Prime Minister will have blood on his hands.
“He needs to become more statesmanlike and do his job instead of pandering to his backbenchers.”
Speaking on GB News, Dame Priti Patel hit out at the Prime Minister for adopting a “feeble” position, accusing him of “sitting on the fence”.
“Let’s not forget, we have British nationals and British bases in the Middle East, it’s right we do everything possible to protect them and defend them”, she told Camilla Tominey.
The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was confirmed yesterday | GETTY
Asked what he should have said, Ms Patel said “he should have been much more robust in that Iran is a threat to our citizens.
“Iran threatens our country through cyber attacks and the Government would have been informed about the imminent threats to our allies. It should have taken action.”
Asked about the advice Attorney General Lord Hermer may have given to the PM, Ms Patel said she has “no doubt” he will have given some sort of legal advice.
But she suggested the threat Iran poses should override such warnings the Prime Minister may have received from his Attorney General.
“I think it’s astonishing our Foreign Secretary has taken no action”, she added.
“Lord Hermer, our Attorney General, is constantly telling the Prime Minister to sit on the fence. I’m afraid we can’t just sit this one out anymore.
“It’s unbelievable – it’s a dereliction of his duty.”