UK politics: Trump’s Nato claims ‘insulting and frankly appalling’, says Starmer –as it happened

Starmer says it was ‘insulting and, frankly, appalling’ for Trump to imply Nato allies did not fight properly in Afghanistan

Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump’s claim that Nato allies did no properly fight alongside the US in Afghanistion. In a pooled clip that has just been broadcast, he sounded genuinely angry.

Starmer said:

Let me start by paying tribute to 457 of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice that they made for their country.

There are many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries.

And so I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and, frankly, appalling.

And I’m not surprised they caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured, and in fact across the country.

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  Angela Rayner, the former deputy PM, is reportedly due to join those Labour figures saying the party should not block Andy Burnham standing to be a candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection, where the Labour MP Andrew Gwynne resigned today. (See 5.18pm.) Burnham will have to decide whether or not to stand by tomorrow afternoon.

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For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.

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Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a helicopter co-pilot gunner, has issued a statement implicitly criticising Donald Trump for his Afghanistan comment. Harry says the sacrifices made by British military personnel who died in the conflict should be “spoken about truthfully and with respect”.

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In 2001, Nato invoked article 5 for the first – and only – time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call.

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I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.

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Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.

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(Trump’s comments were neither truthful nor respectful.)

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The Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has formally resigned from parliament. That means the Gorton and Denton byelection is definitely on.

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Here is our latest story about the contest, written before the resignation was confirmed.

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In normal countries, MPs simply resign but, Britain being a place that likes its tradition, it does not work quite like that here. The announcement has come from the Treasury, which says: “The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Andrew John Gwynne to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.” In the old days being steward of the Manor of Northstead was an office of profit under the crown, which meant holding the post was incompatible with being an MP. The job has long since gone, but applying for it (or steward of the Chiltern Hundreds) remains the mechanism by which MPs resign.

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He got there in the end. Other prime ministers with a great capacity for risk, or more confidence in their ability to channel public opinion, would have been out in front of the cameras much more quickly to deliver a whacking to Donald Trump. Even Nigel Farage got his (rather feeble) criticism out by mid afternoon. But when they came, Keir Starmer’s words were powerful and impressive – far stronger than anything he has ever said about Donald Trump before, and probably one of the best TV clips he has ever delivered.

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Starmer has an uncle who served in the Falklands war, on a ship that was sunk. He has spent most of his life with lawyers, not soldiers, but his outrage at Trump’s (seemingly intentional) insult to British servicemen and women who fought in Afghanistan came over as thoroughly authentic. Part of the job of being PM is to speak out on important matters on behalf of the nation. This afternoon at least, Starmer earned his money.

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This does not mean that Starmer is going to go the full Mark Carney, or Emmanuel Macron. His final answer in the TV clip made that clear. (See 4.36pm.) Even this week, Starmer has been committed to preserving the Atlantic alliance, not writing its obituary or establishing its replacement.

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But after today he may realise that there is more to be gained by pushing back against the White House monster than he perhaps realised. Saying what you actually think; it can be a liberation.

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In his pooled interview, Keir Starmer was also “getting a bit exasperated” by some of the comments Donald Trump has been making. The interviewer, Jon Craig from Sky News, pointed out that Starmer has had to distance himself from or criticise several things Trump has been saying recently.

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Starmer replied:

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n

We have a very close relationship with the US. And that is important for our security, for our defence, and our intelligence. And it is very important we maintain that relationship.

n

But is it because of that relationship that we fought alongside the Americans, for our values, in Afghanistan.

n

And it was in that context that people lost their lives or suffered terrible injuries, fighting for freedom, fighting with our allies, for what we believe in.

n

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In his pooled interview Keir Starmer was then told about the mother of a serviceman who suffered dreadful injuries in Afghanistan who wanted Starmer to be tougher with Donald Trump, and to demand an apology. Asked if he would demand an apology, Starmer replied:

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n

Well, I’ve made my position clear.

n

What I would say to [the mother] is, if I had misspoken in that way, or said those words, I would certainly apologise, and I would apologise to her.

n

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Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump’s claim that Nato allies did no properly fight alongside the US in Afghanistion. In a pooled clip that has just been broadcast, he sounded genuinely angry.

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Starmer said:

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n

Let me start by paying tribute to 457 of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

n

I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice that they made for their country.

n

There are many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries.

n

And so I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and, frankly, appalling.

n

And I’m not surprised they caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured, and in fact across the country.

n

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Starmer speaking on Sky News”,”caption”:”Keir Starmer speaking on Sky News”,”credit”:”Photograph: Sky News”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1769185133000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”11.18 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1769185452000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”11.24 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1769185452000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”11.24 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”11.24″,”title”:”Starmer says it was ‘insulting and, frankly, appalling’ for Trump to imply Nato allies did not fight properly in Afghanistan”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Fri 23 Jan 2026 13.30 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Fri 23 Jan 2026 03.56 EST”},{“id”:”6973974a8f089b46e3ce0c9e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The White House has refused to retract, or apologise, for what Donald Trump said about the contribution made by America’s allies to the fight in Afghanistan.

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According to a BBC report, when Anna Kelly, the deputy press secretary at the White House, was asked to respond to what No 10 and politicians in the UK are saying about Trump’s comment being offensive and wrong, she did not address this point. Instead she just said:

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n

President Trump is right – America’s contributions to Nato dwarf that of other countries, and his success in delivering a 5% spending pledge from Nato allies is helping Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense.

n

The United States is the only Nato partner who can protect Greenland, and the president is advancing Nato interests in doing so.

n

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Doug Beattie, the former Ulster Unionist leader and former army captain who won the Military Cross for his service in Afghanistan, has said that it is not enough for Keir Starmer to just get his spokesperson to say that Donald Trump’s Nato comment was wrong. (See 11.58am.) Beattie said he wanted to hear Starmer condemn what the president said himself, in public.

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In an interview with Fox News, Beattie said:

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n

People need to understand that it was the US which invoked article 5 of the Nato charter and it was other nations that came to the call and in doing so in Afghanistan, lost thousands of their young men and women killed and injured, the UK lost 457 killed in action, but over 2,200 were wounded in action.

n

Of those more than 600 were seriously injured, including my good friend Andy Allen, who lost both legs and most of his eyesight on the front line fighting against a brutal regime which was the Taliban.

n

The president has insulted him, he has insulted me and he has insulted many other people who served in Afghanistan …

n

[Starmer] needs to hold the president to task and he needs to make that public.

n

If he doesn’t, he will show his absolute weakness and his inability to stand up for those men and women who gave so much in Afghanistan at the behest of the US.

n

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Earlier Beattie said Trump was “unhinged”. (See 9.11am.)

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Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has now commented on Donald Trump’s latest comment about the Nato contribution in Afghanistan. In a post on social media, he said:

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n

Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America’s in Afghanistan.

n

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Farage also included a clip of what he said at Davos on Wednesday about Trump being wrong to say in his speech that afternoon that Nato never contributed anything to the US.

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Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is due to announce major plans to reorganise police forces in England and Wales on Monday. But, in line with recent practice when the Home Office has got big policy to unveil, the briefing has already started. The outline of the plans are already out. (See 12.07pm.)

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Here are some more comments on what is planned.

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Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said making police forces bigger won’t necessarily cut crime.

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n

Top-down reorganisation risks undermining efforts to fight crime, inevitably leading to centralised control that will hit towns and villages across the country hardest.

n

The biggest force, the Met, has the lowest crime solving rates and falling police numbers. Big is not necessarily better.

n

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The Police Federation of England and Wales accepts there is a problem with the current arrangements, but is worried reorganisation will be used to cut costs. A spokesperson said:

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n

Policing’s current structure has entrenched a postcode lottery in what the public see but also how officers are led, supported and treated.

n

Fewer forces doesn’t guarantee more or better policing for communities. Skills, capabilities and equipment need significant investment if the public and officers are going to see reform deliver in the real world.

n

Any proposals must be driven by evidence and best practice, not lowest cost, and must strengthen rather than weaken frontline, investigative and specialist capability, neighbourhood policing and public confidence.

n

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Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Wales, said her party wants power over policing policy in Wales devolved to the Senedd. She said:

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n

The proposed reorganisation of policing in Wales is being driven from Westminster, with little regard for Wales’ geography, communities, language or social needs. Decisions that will fundamentally reshape public services in Wales are once again being taken without Wales having the power to decide for itself.

n

If policing structures in Wales are to change, those decisions must be made in Wales, by institutions accountable to the people of Wales. A one-size-fits-all approach imposed from Westminster risks weakening local accountability and distancing policing from the communities it serves.

n

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The privatisation of water in England is not the reason for its failings, Sir Jon Cunliffe, the architect of the government’s water plan has said, as he warned there was no one “simple solution” such as nationalisation. Helena Horton has the story.

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Yvette Cooper, the current foreign secretary, has posted this message on a tweet reposting Al Carns’ message to Donald Trump. (See 10.49am.)

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n

Proud to have @AlistairCarns as our Armed Forces Minister.

n

British & NATO troops fought side by side with our American friends in Afghanistan. To suggest otherwise is just wrong.

n

Our whole country honours their courage and sacrifice and we honour and respect that of our allies.

n

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Jeremy Hunt, the former Tory foreign secretary, has told Radio 4’s the World at One that Donald Trump’s comment about Nato allies in Afghanistan was “totally unacceptable, factually wrong, and deeply disrespectful to the families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price”.

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Hunt said that, in terms of the proportion of troops who died, British losses in Afghanistan were even higher than US losses. “We were in one of the most dangerous regions, Helmand,” Hunt said. “And so that that is that’s what makes it even worse – it’s just plain wrong.”

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Asked if he thought the government should cancel the king’s state visit to the US later this year in the light of Trump’s comment, Hunt said this was a difficult decision. But he also said that, “despite extreme provocation”, it was important for Britain to maintain good relations with Washington, not to abandon the Atlantic alliance and to “keep America locked in to the defence of Europe”.

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Major policing reforms expected to drastically cut the number of forces across England and Wales would be “complex to deliver” and risk separating police forces from communities they serve, a policing body has warned. PA Media says:

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n

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, is poised to unveil the largest overhaul of policing in decades on Monday, in an effort to tackle what government sources called “an epidemic of everyday offences”.

n

The changes will see the overall number of forces slashed from their current level of 43, and tasked with focusing on serious and organised crime along with complex investigations such as homicides.

n

At the lower level, each town, city and borough will be formed into a “local policing area” – with neighbourhood officers focused on local crime such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

n

Mahmood has previously said that the structure of 43 forces in England and Wales is “irrational”, and police chiefs have already called for radical reform of the set-up, backing a system with fewer, larger forces.

n

But reacting to the expected move, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said the creation of regional forces would be expensive, time consuming and has the potential to “derail” the ambition of reforms.

n

PCCs Matthew Scott and Clare Moody said: “The public want neighbourhood policing. There is no evidence to suggest the public would welcome bigger forces and in terms of public accountability, it also risks creating a separation between police forces and the local communities they serve.

n

“It makes responding to local policing and crime needs more difficult and removes the link between local taxpayers and the police they increasingly directly fund through the policing precept.”

n

They added financial savings from creating larger force areas “could be outweighed by very significant set-up costs”.

n

Mahmood is understood to believe the current system, which sees each of the 43 forces pay for separate headquarters and administrative staff, wastes money that could be spent on fighting crime.

n

Sources said the reforms would save money by merging back-office functions, freeing up resources to be invested in more police officers.

n

The changes are also intended to even out differences in performance between police forces, with ministers believing smaller forces lack the resources to tackle major incidents.

n

A government source pointed to Wiltshire police, which needed support from 40 other forces to respond to the Salisbury poisonings in 2018, as well as vast differences in charge rates for some offences.

n

They said: “Under this new structure, all forces – regardless of where they are – will have the tools and resources they need to fight serious crime. Where you live will no longer determine the outcomes you get from your force.”

n

But the changes will take time to come into effect, with the mergers only expected to be completed by the end of the next parliament in the mid-2030s.

n

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Downing Street has said that Donald Trump was “wrong” to downplay the role played by British troops in Afghanistan.

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Asked about the comments at this morning’s lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson said:

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n

The president was wrong to diminish the role of Nato troops, including British forces, in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks on the US.

n

Article 5 of the Nato treaty was invoked for the first time and British forces served alongside American and other allied troops in sustained combat operations.

n

457 British service personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan and many more were wounded. Many hundreds suffered life-changing injuries from their service alongside the US and our allies in Afghanistan.

n

Their sacrifice and that of other Nato forces was made in the service of collective security and in response to an attack on our ally.

n

We are incredibly proud of our armed forces and their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

n

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But the spokesperson did not back calls for the president to apologise and, asked if Keir Starmer would be raising this with Trump when they next speak (as Stephen Kinnock suggested this morning – see 8.56am), the spokesperson just said that details of any calls would be set out in the normal way.

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And there seem to be no plans to haul in the US ambassador, as the Liberal Democrats are proposing. (See 11.28am.)

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The US ambassador should be summoned to the Foreign Office for a reprimand over Donald Trump’s comments, the Liberal Democrats are saying. James MacCleary, the Lib Dem defence spokesperson, said:

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n

Trump’s lies about the British soldiers who laid down their lives in Afghanistan are disgraceful. The president shows his true colours in denigrating the best of us – those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

n

Keir Starmer must summon the US ambassador over this insult to our brave troops.

n

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John Healey, the defence secretary, has posted a message on social media that amounts to an implicit rebuke to Donald Trump over his comments about the contribution made by Nato allies in Afghanistan. Healey said:

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n

NATO’s Article 5 has only been triggered once. The UK and NATO allies answered the US call. And more than 450 British personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan.

n

Those British troops should be remembered for who they were: heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation.

n

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By comparison with some of the comments made by other parliamentarians today, this is very mild. But in government circles (almost regardless of which party is in power) there is always a strong reluctance to disagree with the US government in public.

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The Labour MP Jo White has also said this morning that Labour HQ should not block Andy Burnham from being a byelection candidate in Gorton and Denton. (See 11.05am.) White is MP for Bassetlaw and leads the Red Wall caucus in parliament, which represents Labour MPs who won seats in the north and the Midlands that were traditionally Labour but that turned Tory in 2019, after Brexit. White said:

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n

Let the North decide who their Labour candidate should be for the Gorton and Denton by election. A London stitch up will be a disaster for Labour.

n

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Keir Starmer’s allies have launched a “Stop Andy Burnham” campaign to prevent the Labour mayor from returning to parliament after the resignation of a Manchester MP triggered a byelection, Pippa Crerar, Jessica Elgot and Josh Halliday report in their overnight story.

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In a good analysis, Jess explains why, if Burnham does decide that he wants to return to the Commons as MP for Gorton and Denton in Manchester, he faces a colossal challenge.

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But, if Starmer does try to use procedural mechanisms to stop Burnham being a candidate, he faces a significant backlash from within his party.

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This morning Andrea Egan, the new, leftwing general secretary of Unison, one of the two most dominant unions in the Labour party, posted this on social media.

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n

I’m sure all trade unionists expect a democratic process for Gorton & Denton in which local party members decide who they want to represent them. We’ve seen enough control-freakery in the Labour Party and it has done our movement nothing but harm.

n

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Al Carns, the former Royal Marines officer who is now a defence minister, has posted a video response to Donald Trump’s comments about the record of British and other allied forces in Afghanistan. (See 8.56am.) Without mentioning the president by name, Carns says that his comments are “utterly ridiculous”.

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n

Tracking some comments made that Nato troops stayed a little off the front lines in Afghanistan and that the US has never necessarily needed us.

n

Well, it’s a real shame to hear that. The only time Nato’s ever enacted article 5 was after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, and the world rallied to the support of the US.

n

Our agencies, our forces, our politicians, we all stood together shoulder to shoulder and responded.

n

On Afghanistan, frankly, it’s utterly ridiculous. Many courageous and honourable service personnel from many nations fought on the front lines. Many fought way beyond it. I served five tours in Afghanistan, many alongside my American colleagues. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. And not everybody came home.

n

These are bonds, I think, forged in fire, protecting us, our shared interests, but actually protecting democracy overall.

n

I suggest whoever believes these comments, come have a whisky with me, my colleagues, their families and importantly, the families of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for both of our nations.

n

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Carns ended with two military sayings.

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n

Now, some advice for anyone who may be listening. There are two great sayings worth remembering. Number one, there’s only one worse things than working with allies; that is working without them. And when you do, always remember: never above, never below, always side by side.

n

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The UK served on the frontline in Afghanistan and often way beyond it! pic.twitter.com/rC3oejqvQa

— Al Carns (@AlistairCarns) January 23, 2026

nn”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Although the whisky invitation seems addressed to the president, it won’t appeal to him. Trump doesn’t drink.

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Stephen Kinnock, the health minister, was giving morning to promote an announcement about cancer care. As Denis Campbell reports, hospitals in rural and coastal parts of England will get more cancer doctors to help tackle stark inequalities that mean people in some areas are far more likely to die from the disease.

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There is more comment on this in the Department of Health and Social Care’s news release.

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Kemi Badenoch has joined those condemning Donald Trump’s comment about the record of Nato allies in Afghanistan. Within the last few minutes she posted this on social media.

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n

Trump saying NATO allies “weren’t on the front line” in Afghanistan is flat-out nonsense. British, Canadian, and NATO troops fought and died alongside the US for 20 years.

n

This is a fact, not opinion. Their sacrifice deserves respect not denigration.

n

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And here are two Conservative MPs on Donald Trump’s comments about the record of Nato allies in Afghanistan.

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From Simon Hoare, chair of the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee

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n

Frankly Trump makes my flesh creep and my stomach turn. Where are his advisors? Where is his nurse? Where is his sense of shame?

n

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From Ben Spencer, a shadow science minister

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n

The US president has gone from insulting and threatening NATO allies to insulting and demeaning the brave men and women of our armed forces.

n

457 British service personnel died in Afghanistan, with UK troops having served alongside US troops and those from over 50 coalition nations. We will always remember them.

n

In a country renowned for its respect for service men and women, it is astounding and shameful that the US President to show such contempt for the service of others.

n

We have to question the strength of any relationship, special or otherwise, with someone who could treat their sacrifice with such disrespect.

n

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From Ben Obese-Jecty, a former soldier

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n

I served in Afghanistan. I saw first hand the sacrifices made by British soldiers I served alongside in Sangin where we suffered horrific casualties, as did the US Marines the following year.

n

I don’t believe US military personnel share the view of President Trump; his words do them a disservice as our closest military allies. I

n

It’s sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the President of the United States.

n

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This is from Sorcha Eastwood, the Alliance MP for LaganValley in Northern Ireland, on Trump’s latest comments.

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n

Any elected rep in Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK that continues to champion Trump and claims to care about the UK after his shameful and disgusting remarks about our military service needs to do one. Over 400 UK service personnel lost their lives in recent times in Afghanistan. Many more lost limbs, eyesight, mental wellbeing. You don’t get to write-off those lives, that service and those families Trump. Absolutely beneath contempt and beyond offensive.

n

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Good morning. Donald Trump enjoys causing offence but the problem with having a reputation for being outrageous and provocative is that, as people get used to your outrages, you have to go further and further to continue to get a response. We are seeing an example of that this morning.

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In his meandering ramble at Davos (a cavalcade of falsehoods, as explained by CNN here), Trump repeated a criticism of Nato he has made before, saying: “What we have gotten out of Nato is nothing, except to protect Europe from the Soviet Union and now Russia.” This was so wrong that even Nigel Farage felt impelled to speak out and say so.

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But yesterday, in what could be seen as a retort to the point Farage made, Trump doubled down.

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Trump told Fox News that he was not sure Nato allies would be there for the US “if we ever needed them”. He went on:

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n

We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them.

n

They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan … and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.

n

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Even in an age where outrageous comments are pumped out by social media all the time, this hit a new low; in almost every country in the world, dishonouring soldiers who have died in conflict crosses a line.

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As Jamie Grierson reports, British politicians have been lining up to criticise the president.

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And even ministers seem to have been given licence to speak out. For the last year, Keir Starmer and his team have avoided criticising Trump in public over almost everything. But Stephen Kinnock, the health minister who was doing a media round for the government this morning, did feel confident speaking out – even if he did not really channel the outrage many Britons will feel. Kinnock told Sky News:

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n

President Trump’s comments are deeply disappointing, there is no other way to say that. I don’t know really why he said them. I don’t think there’s any basis for him to make those comments.

n

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Kinnock explained:

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n

Many, many British soldiers and many soldiers from other European Nato allies gave their lives in support of American missions, American-led missions in places like Afghanistan and Iraq …

n

I think anybody who seeks to criticise what they have done and the sacrifices that they make is plainly wrong. I think the reaction to President Trump’s comments are very clear from right across the political spectrum, and I think the British public feels very strongly about the need to defend our armed forces and to support them in the incredibly important work that they do in the dangerous and turbulent world in which we live.

n

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Starmer himself has not commented yet, but Kinnock said he expected the PM would raise this with Trump directly. “He will, I’m sure, be raising this issue with the president,” Kinnock told LBC.

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Here is the agenda for the day.

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10am: Peers resume their debate on the assisted dying bill. As Jessica Elgot reports, the bill supporters think filibustering by opponents of the bill mean the legislation has almost no chance of passing before the end of this parliamentary session.

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Morning: Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, is on a visit in Essex. Separately, Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, is on a visit in Surrey.

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11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.

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Early afternoon: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, holds a press conference about the hospital infections scandal.

“,”elementId”:”d7eccf35-57a0-4675-8d4c-5536039c77ea”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (between 10am and 3pm), or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.

“,”elementId”:”8a82b41e-cd03-4dc5-9d5f-fca9e70d8595″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.

“,”elementId”:”9c7eab34-461b-487b-86df-ca260576411f”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.

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Key events

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Early evening summary

• Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump’s claim that Nato allies did no properly fight alongside the US in Afghanistion, calling it “insulting and, frankly, appalling”. It is the harshest rebuke he has ever delivered in public to the US president, with whom he has invested considerable time and effort over the past year establishing good relations. In the past Starmer generally declined to criticise Trump in public over things Trump has said or done that have offended British political opinion. But the backlash against Trump’s comment has been unprecedented. Even Prince Harry has issued a statement dismissing his comments as factually wrong and disrespectful. While Trump said that non-US Nato troops stayed away the front line in Afghanistan (see 8.56am), Denmark, the UK and Estonia had death rates that, as proportion of overall population, were similar to America’s. Here are the figures from the BBC.

• Angela Rayner, the former deputy PM, is reportedly due to join those Labour figures saying the party should not block Andy Burnham standing to be a candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection, where the Labour MP Andrew Gwynne resigned today. (See 5.18pm.) Burnham will have to decide whether or not to stand by tomorrow afternoon.

For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.

Prince Harry criticises Trump, saying Nato troops killed fighting with US should be ‘spoken about truthfully and with respect’

Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a helicopter co-pilot gunner, has issued a statement implicitly criticising Donald Trump for his Afghanistan comment. Harry says the sacrifices made by British military personnel who died in the conflict should be “spoken about truthfully and with respect”.

In 2001, Nato invoked article 5 for the first – and only – time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call.

I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.

Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.

(Trump’s comments were neither truthful nor respectful.)

Donald Trump is being criticised in other Nato countries for his comments about the contribution made by non-Americans in Afghanistan.

As the BBC reports, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish defence minister, said:

Poland has always been, is, and will be a responsible and reliable ally that, at the moment when security is threatened, stands in its defence.

The Polish Army, arm in arm with its allies, took part, among others, in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is present today in missions and operations conducted by Nato.

Tragic moments, when our soldiers died, showed that in defence of international security, of Poland’s security, we are ready to pay the highest price. This sacrifice will never be forgotten and must not be diminished. Poland is a reliable and proven ally, and nothing will change that.

James Stavridis, a retired US admiral and former Nato supreme allied commander for Europe, said:

Ambassador Nick Burns has it exactly right. Hundreds of @NATO troops died under my command on the front lines in Afghanistan 2009-2013. I honor their memory every single day.

Stavridis was commening on a tweet from a former US ambassdor who called Trump’s comment “shameful”.

The BBC has more comments from Nato figures on its live blog.

The Green party MP Ellie Chowns has joined those calling Donald Trump’s comment about the record of Nato allies in Afghanistan “an insult”. She says:

Disgusting remarks from Donald Trump – an insult to the memories of the more than 400 British soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan and to their families. Absolutely vile to belittle and deny that sacrifice.

Ben Walker, a political data expert at the New Statesman, has written a useful article looking at polling and what it might mean for the Gorton and Denton byelection. The New Statesman has its own Britain Predicts election forecasting model that has performed well in the past. Although Labour won the seat very easily in 2026, Walker says current figures suggest Reform UK should win – even allowing for tactical voting.

Normally it would be impossible to get data on what impact having a particular candidate would have. But there is a lot of polling about Andy Burnham’s approval ratings, and Walker has adjusted the figures to take account of how popular Burnham is with the supporters of other parties. These suggest that, with Burnham as a candidate, Labour could draw even with Reform UK, or even win with tactical voting.

Walker concludes:

Brand Burnham could save Labour in this Greater Manchester by-election. There’s no better place for it than his own backyard. (It’s better than Norwich, at least.) But the constituency is home to its fair share of voters who are prone to more marginal candidates. The seat is diverse and more deprived than the average. A history of voting Labour counts for little these days. The large Green vote here is not borne from nothing. If Labour wants to see off Reform, it needs to inspire the left without inciting the right.

But this assumes Burnham will be a candidate. He has not, as yet, said that he will try to stand, and even if he does want to stand, as Jessica Elgot explains, it is hard to see him getting on the ballot.

Labour’s Andrew Gwynne resigns as MP, triggering byelection in Gorton and Denton

The Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has formally resigned from parliament. That means the Gorton and Denton byelection is definitely on.

Here is our latest story about the contest, written before the resignation was confirmed.

In normal countries, MPs simply resign but, Britain being a place that likes its tradition, it does not work quite like that here. The announcement has come from the Treasury, which says: “The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Andrew John Gwynne to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.” In the old days being steward of the Manor of Northstead was an office of profit under the crown, which meant holding the post was incompatible with being an MP. The job has long since gone, but applying for it (or steward of the Chiltern Hundreds) remains the mechanism by which MPs resign.

Here is the Starmer clip.

Sir Keir Starmer has said Donald Trump's claim that British troops did not serve on the frontline in Afghanistan was “insulting and frankly appalling”.

He suggested that the US president should apologise.

Latest ➡️ https://t.co/fu9XJYD8Rd

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TAls70GjnH

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 23, 2026

nn”}}”>

Sir Keir Starmer has said Donald Trump’s claim that British troops did not serve on the frontline in Afghanistan was “insulting and frankly appalling”.

He suggested that the US president should apologise.

Latest ➡️ https://t.co/fu9XJYD8Rd

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TAls70GjnH

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 23, 2026

Starmer’s comments on Trump – snap verdict

He got there in the end. Other prime ministers with a great capacity for risk, or more confidence in their ability to channel public opinion, would have been out in front of the cameras much more quickly to deliver a whacking to Donald Trump. Even Nigel Farage got his (rather feeble) criticism out by mid afternoon. But when they came, Keir Starmer’s words were powerful and impressive – far stronger than anything he has ever said about Donald Trump before, and probably one of the best TV clips he has ever delivered.

Starmer has an uncle who served in the Falklands war, on a ship that was sunk. He has spent most of his life with lawyers, not soldiers, but his outrage at Trump’s (seemingly intentional) insult to British servicemen and women who fought in Afghanistan came over as thoroughly authentic. Part of the job of being PM is to speak out on important matters on behalf of the nation. This afternoon at least, Starmer earned his money.

This does not mean that Starmer is going to go the full Mark Carney, or Emmanuel Macron. His final answer in the TV clip made that clear. (See 4.36pm.) Even this week, Starmer has been committed to preserving the Atlantic alliance, not writing its obituary or establishing its replacement.

But after today he may realise that there is more to be gained by pushing back against the White House monster than he perhaps realised. Saying what you actually think; it can be a liberation.

Starmer says it is important to maintain close relationship with US

In his pooled interview, Keir Starmer was also “getting a bit exasperated” by some of the comments Donald Trump has been making. The interviewer, Jon Craig from Sky News, pointed out that Starmer has had to distance himself from or criticise several things Trump has been saying recently.

Starmer replied:

We have a very close relationship with the US. And that is important for our security, for our defence, and our intelligence. And it is very important we maintain that relationship.

But is it because of that relationship that we fought alongside the Americans, for our values, in Afghanistan.

And it was in that context that people lost their lives or suffered terrible injuries, fighting for freedom, fighting with our allies, for what we believe in.

Starmer suggests Trump should apologise for his comment, particularly to relatives of those killed or injured in Afghanistan

In his pooled interview Keir Starmer was then told about the mother of a serviceman who suffered dreadful injuries in Afghanistan who wanted Starmer to be tougher with Donald Trump, and to demand an apology. Asked if he would demand an apology, Starmer replied:

Well, I’ve made my position clear.

What I would say to [the mother] is, if I had misspoken in that way, or said those words, I would certainly apologise, and I would apologise to her.

Starmer says it was ‘insulting and, frankly, appalling’ for Trump to imply Nato allies did not fight properly in Afghanistan

Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump’s claim that Nato allies did no properly fight alongside the US in Afghanistion. In a pooled clip that has just been broadcast, he sounded genuinely angry.

Starmer said:

Let me start by paying tribute to 457 of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice that they made for their country.

There are many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries.

And so I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and, frankly, appalling.

And I’m not surprised they caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured, and in fact across the country.

Connor Naismith, the Labour MP who represents Crewe and Nantwich in the north-west of England, says he does not want his party to prevent Andy Burnham from applying to be its candidate in the Gorton and Denton byelection.

Gorton and Denton deserves the best possible choice of candidates. I agree with the Prime Minister that our attention should be on delivering for the public, not speculating about future leadership contests. Any decision made to limit the choice would be wrong.

But he also does not want more leadership speculation (which would be the inevitable consequences of Burnham being a candidate), so there is some mixed messaging going on here.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, and Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, have both recorded TV clips criticising Donald Trump’s comment about the record of Nato allies in Afghanistan. In hers, Badenoch said Trump was talking “absolute nonsense”.

Doug Beattie wants to see Keir Starmer on camera saying this too. (See 3.33pm.)

White House declines to retract, or apologise for, what Trump said about record of Nato allies in Afghanistan

The White House has refused to retract, or apologise, for what Donald Trump said about the contribution made by America’s allies to the fight in Afghanistan.

According to a BBC report, when Anna Kelly, the deputy press secretary at the White House, was asked to respond to what No 10 and politicians in the UK are saying about Trump’s comment being offensive and wrong, she did not address this point. Instead she just said:

President Trump is right – America’s contributions to Nato dwarf that of other countries, and his success in delivering a 5% spending pledge from Nato allies is helping Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense.

The United States is the only Nato partner who can protect Greenland, and the president is advancing Nato interests in doing so.