Starmer accused of emboldening tyrants by refusing to let Ukraine fire British missiles into Russia

SIR Keir Starmer's failure to show decisive action over Ukraine will bolster dictators around the world and cost thousands of lives, a former defence secretary claimed yesterday.

- Michael Knowles

US President Joe Biden's decision to allow Kyiv to use American long-range missiles was widely hoped to be the first in a series of moves to give Ukraine greater firepower.

But there have been repeated delays in allowing Kyiv to fire British-made missiles deep inside Russian territory.

Sir Keir was last night said to have been blocked by Washington from allowing Kyiv to fire Storm Shadow missiles. But No 10 remained tight-lipped over whether the Prime Minister would sanction their use.

Former defence secretary Grant Shapps told the Daily Express: "There was a time when the UK led the world in the defence of Ukraine, but now even after the US has finally acted the British Government seems incapable of reaching a decision.

"This Government came to power promising they would keep yet four months later the Prime Minister has yet to go and show his support for Ukraine in person and, worse still, has not authorised our long-range weapons to be used to stop Putin.

"Democracy and freedom isn't something that happens through sound bites, you actually have to be prepared to act, even when the stakes are high.