A significant majority of the British public stands against permitting American forces to utilize UK airbases for conducting strikes on Iranian missile installations, according to newly released polling data. The YouGov survey, published on Monday, demonstrates that 49% of Britons oppose US military action against Iran, with only 28% expressing support.
The research further indicates that precisely half of the UK population disapproves of their government authorizing US access to British military facilities for this purpose, while merely 30% endorse such cooperation. This public sentiment emerges despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement on Sunday evening that the United States would be granted permission to use British bases specifically for targeting Iranian missile sites—a decision marking a reversal from Britain’s initial refusal to participate when US-Israeli strikes commenced on Saturday.
Notably, Britain had originally blocked American access to the joint UK-US military installation on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands, a move reportedly taken following legal counsel from Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer.
The polling reveals strikingly low strong support for the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, with just 11% of the general public expressing firm endorsement. Political affiliation significantly influences these views: while 36% of Reform voters strongly support the strikes, only 5% of Labour voters share this position. Among Green Party supporters, opposition reaches 70%.
The issue has sparked considerable political controversy, with Reform leader Nigel Farage and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch both criticizing Prime Minister Starmer for limiting US military options rather than granting blanket authorization for any actions against Iran. Badenoch has controversially suggested that Labour’s cautious approach reflects concerns about alienating Muslim voters following the party’s recent by-election defeat against the Greens in Gorton and Denton.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Green Party leader Zack Polanski have demanded parliamentary scrutiny of the decision, urging Starmer to submit the matter to a legislative vote. Polanski went further by characterizing America as a ‘rogue state’ and calling for complete reversal of the basing permissions.
Defending his position, Starmer explained in a Downing Street address that destroying Iranian missiles at their source represents the only effective method to prevent regional attacks targeting innocent civilians and endangering British lives.