Prime Minister Keir Starmer defends protections around Cyprus base

Keir Starmer swiped at Donald Trump for plunging the Middle East into 'chaos' today - and admitted the president has been giving him the silent treatment.The PM played down a mounting backlash over Britain's lack of military preparations and the meltdown in the Special Relationship at a Downing Street press conference.Sir Keir said he was providing 'calm, level-headed leadership' to the burgeoning crisis, appealing for the nation to 'come together'. He also argued that the UK had been deploying resources such as anti-aircraft missiles to the region since December, despite anger at the apparent inability to protect a crucial Cyprus base from Iranian reprisals.