A HEREFORDSHIRE MP has hit out at President Trump's "bullying demands" as the US and Israeli war against Iran continues.
Dr Ellie Chowns, MP for North Herefordshire, spoke out in Parliament on March 16.
“Will the UK be absolutely unequivocal that we will not give in to Trump’s bullying demands, but will instead stand up for British interests, and will we make it absolutely clear that we will not be dragged into a catastrophic, illegal war in the middle east,” Chowns asked parliament.
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched missile strikes across Iran and assassinated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
“The Minister and the Prime Minister have talked about the UK being willing to participate in a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait of Hormuz, but does the Minister really think that President Trump has a viable plan, given that he had no plan for the illegal war, nor any legal justification for the war he has launched,” Chowns said.
Sir Keir has so far resisted Mr Trump’s demands for the Royal Navy to deploy to the strait, although the UK has unmanned minehunting drones already in Bahrain.
The UK has sent air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to help defend Cyprus from drones and missiles.
The Prime Minister told the Commons on Thursday: “We will protect our people in the region. We will take action to defend ourselves and our allies, and we will not be drawn into the wider war.
“I want to see this war end as quickly as possible. The longer it continues, the bigger the impact on the cost of living, and that’s why we’ve intervened to support households with costs of heating oil. The best way forward is a negotiated settlement with Iran giving up any aspirations to develop a nuclear weapon.”
Chowns has sponsored the Armed Conflict (Requirements) Bill, which states that before any armed forces may be deployed, a Minister of the Crown must publish a statement giving reasons, an assessment of the operation’s compliance with international law, and to set out an objective for the operation.
“In 2020, the now Prime Minister proposed legislation to ensure that any UK military action could take place only if there were a legal justification, a viable objective, and the consent of the Commons,” Chowns said.
Share