British prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed Muslim MPs and community figures on Tuesday during a “Big Iftar” event in Westminster Hall, organized by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.
During the event Starmer characterized the UK as “a community of communities where Muslims are at the forefront of Britain’s story”.
He also played down British involvement in military striles in Iran as he joined a celebratory meal for Muslims in the House of Commons.
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Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said that Labour had not participated in the strikes because of a “pure, partisan, political calculation” to keep voters on side.
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She said: “Across the UK, there are groups whose political loyalties, when it comes to conflicts in the Middle East, do not align with the British national interest. These are people whom Labour see as ‘their voters’ because without them they cannot stay in power.”
Around 111 Labour-held constituencies have significant Muslim populations, which could be crucial in Labour’s battle to hold onto power at the next general election.
The Telegraph reports: While UK air bases have been used for “defensive” US strikes in the Middle East, Sir Keir told the group that Britain was “not involved” in offensive action against the regime.
The Prime Minister attended the Big Iftar in Parliament event on Tuesday, alongside several British Muslim parliamentarians. Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims eat at sunset to break their fast during Ramadan.
He told the event that he wished to “make clear” that Britain was not involved in the US-Israeli offensive over the weekend.
In a speech to attendees, he insisted that he was “determined” not to have a repeat of the Iraq war in 2003, which he said he “never supported”.
Sir Keir also said that he would “not lose sight” of the war in Gaza and the need for “peace, justice and security” in Palestine and Israel.
His appearance at the event comes as Labour continues to lose support from Muslim voters, a trend which began after the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel in 2023.
Sir Keir told the event: “On Iran, I want to make clear the UK was not involved in the offensive strikes of the US and Israel, and that remains the case.
