18 March 2026
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP has told Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the UK should not become embroiled in the US’s and Israel’s war with Iran.
She was speaking during Prime Minister’s questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna said:
“We have been here before. The US and its allies rushing to military escalation without a plan for what comes next. The lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan haven’t been learned, we have seen schoolgirls bombed in Iran, families wiped out in Lebanon and the genocide in Gaza looms large in the memory. In Irish there’s a phrase - Ní mhealltar an sionnach faoi dhó- have we learnt nothing?
“I credit the Prime Minister for standing up to Trump and his allies on this issue. The race to war that we have seen from some other parties would only escalate things further and it’s a conflict the public does not support. Our attentions should be on de-escalation, addressing issues around the surge in energy prices and other costs at home and facilitating a peaceful change of government backed by the Iranian people.
“Today I made clear to the Prime Minister that he must not become embroiled in Trump and Netanyahu’s war and pressed him to guarantee a vote for Parliament before any entry into the conflict. This is a moment that demands leadership and we cannot allow our future to be dictated by the likes of Trump and Netanyahu who have proved repeatedly that their only real interest is their own.”