Starmer says he's acting in national interest after Trump criticism

Sir Keir Starmer says he will not be "diverted or deflected" from acting in what he says is the "best national interest", following critical remarks made about him by US President Donald Trump to the BBC.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer once again said he stood by his decision not to drag the UK into the Iran war, which began in late February.

Earlier Trump spoke to the BBC about his relationship with the prime minister, saying the UK and other allies should have given the US more support over Iran.

He also said Starmer could only "recover" politically if he changed course on immigration and "opened the North Sea".

"If he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance," Trump said.

Following Trump's remarks, Starmer said: "I'm here to serve the British people always, to have their interests and to make sure that I make the right decisions for them."

"That is why I took the decision that we would not be dragged into the war in Iran. That is why I took the decision we wouldn't be dragged into the blockade of the Strait [of Hormuz].

"That is in our best national interest. That is my duty. I will stick to it, and I'm not going to be diverted or deflected from that by what anybody else says."

President Trump said earlier this week that the US would not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a deal had been reached with Iran to end the war.

He has previously said he is "not happy" with the level of support offered by the UK to the US in response to the Iran war, while Sir Keir has repeatedly said the UK will not be drawn into a "wider war".

On the North Sea, the US president has also repeatedly called on the UK to increase oil and gas extraction. Sir Keir has opposed this, saying the only way to build energy resilience is to invest in renewables.

The prime minister has also faced mounting pressure over his government's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. A House of Commons foreign affairs committee is currently hearing evidence regarding the vetting procedure for the role.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said Lord Mandelson was "a really bad pick" but the prime minister had "plenty of time to recover".

When asked by the BBC by phone what he meant by that, Trump said: "If he [Starmer] opened the North Sea and if his immigration policies became strong, which right now they're not, he can recover, but if he doesn't, I don't think he has a chance."

When the president was asked why he needed allies such as the UK to get involved, he told the BBC: "I didn't need them at all but they should've been there. I didn't need them, obviously."

"We've wiped Iran's military out, he added. "I didn't need anybody."

Trump also said next week's state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla could "absolutely" help repair relations with the UK.

The president described the King as a "fantastic man", adding: "I know him well, I've known him for years."

"He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive."

The King and Queen will travel to the US for a four-day visit beginning on Monday, and will meet Trump at the White House.

The King will have a private meeting with the president and also deliver an address to Congress.

After two days in Washington DC, they will travel to New York, Virginia and Bermuda before returning to the UK.

The Foreign Office said the trip will mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, and will celebrate a partnership of "shared prosperity, security and history".

With additional reporting by Sarah Smith, North America editor