Newslinks for Thursday 19th February 2026
Who's accountable for the results?
Trump ‘prepares for Iran strikes’ and warns Starmer not to give away Chagos Islands
“Donald Trump has demanded Sir Keir Starmer “not give away” Diego Garcia in a fresh attack on his Chagos Islands deal. The US president warned the Prime Minister that he was making a “big mistake” by entering into a 100-year lease with Mauritius. It is the latest in a series of about-turns from the president on the deal, which he previously called an act of “great stupidity” before giving it approval earlier this month. Mr Trump said Diego Garcia, the shared US base, was crucial for possible air strikes on Iran, which experts predict could take place within days, despite peace talks.” – Daily Telegraph
Trump pulls support for Chagos Islands deal – The Times
Trump renews attack on Starmer’s plan to cede UK ownership of Chagos Islands – FT
Brits evicted from sovereign territory 6,000 miles from home – The Sun
Trump ‘identifies timeline for strike on Iran’ – Daily Mail
President sends fighter jet squadron to ‘kick the door down’ in Iran – Daily Telegraph
Trump’s Chagos rant means he’s preparing to bomb Iran – Daily Telegraph
And Trump prepares to unleash ‘weeks-long blitz on Iran within days’ – The Sun
British couple jailed by Iran for 10 years, family says – BBC News
Obama thought Trump was a joke – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Abandon the deal to surrender Chagos – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Why Trump turned on Starmer’s Chagos deal – Katy Balls, The Times
Starmer ‘not being honest’ on defence spending, say ex-military chiefs
“Sir Keir Starmer is not being honest with the British public over defence spending, former military chiefs have claimed. In a damning open letter, retired heads of the Army and Navy and an ex-MI6 boss warned the Prime Minister that the Armed Forces had been “hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding”. They said that instead of receiving more money because of Labour’s planned increase in defence spending, funding pressures such as pay rises for servicemen and high inflation meant the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was being forced to make cuts. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is locked in talks with the MoD, which is demanding more money to cover the estimated £28bn shortfall in its budget.” – Daily Telegraph
Double defence spending or face war, Starmer warned – The Times
Reeves just gaslit millions of Brits – and made voting Tory an option again – Daily Express
Reeves to do ‘as little as possible’ in Spring Statement despite pressure to spend – Daily Telegraph
Retail chiefs warn of fresh job losses as Labour prices people out of work – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Defending the realm is the PM’s primary responsibility – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Rayner has succumbed to the Westminster disease – James …
Who's accountable for the results?
Trump ‘prepares for Iran strikes’ and warns Starmer not to give away Chagos Islands
“Donald Trump has demanded Sir Keir Starmer “not give away” Diego Garcia in a fresh attack on his Chagos Islands deal. The US president warned the Prime Minister that he was making a “big mistake” by entering into a 100-year lease with Mauritius. It is the latest in a series of about-turns from the president on the deal, which he previously called an act of “great stupidity” before giving it approval earlier this month. Mr Trump said Diego Garcia, the shared US base, was crucial for possible air strikes on Iran, which experts predict could take place within days, despite peace talks.” – Daily Telegraph
Trump pulls support for Chagos Islands deal – The Times
Trump renews attack on Starmer’s plan to cede UK ownership of Chagos Islands – FT
Brits evicted from sovereign territory 6,000 miles from home – The Sun
Trump ‘identifies timeline for strike on Iran’ – Daily Mail
President sends fighter jet squadron to ‘kick the door down’ in Iran – Daily Telegraph
Trump’s Chagos rant means he’s preparing to bomb Iran – Daily Telegraph
And Trump prepares to unleash ‘weeks-long blitz on Iran within days’ – The Sun
British couple jailed by Iran for 10 years, family says – BBC News
Obama thought Trump was a joke – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Abandon the deal to surrender Chagos – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Why Trump turned on Starmer’s Chagos deal – Katy Balls, The Times
Starmer ‘not being honest’ on defence spending, say ex-military chiefs
“Sir Keir Starmer is not being honest with the British public over defence spending, former military chiefs have claimed. In a damning open letter, retired heads of the Army and Navy and an ex-MI6 boss warned the Prime Minister that the Armed Forces had been “hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding”. They said that instead of receiving more money because of Labour’s planned increase in defence spending, funding pressures such as pay rises for servicemen and high inflation meant the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was being forced to make cuts. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is locked in talks with the MoD, which is demanding more money to cover the estimated £28bn shortfall in its budget.” – Daily Telegraph
Double defence spending or face war, Starmer warned – The Times
Reeves just gaslit millions of Brits – and made voting Tory an option again – Daily Express
Reeves to do ‘as little as possible’ in Spring Statement despite pressure to spend – Daily Telegraph
Retail chiefs warn of fresh job losses as Labour prices people out of work – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Defending the realm is the PM’s primary responsibility – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Rayner has succumbed to the Westminster disease – James …
Newslinks for Thursday 19th February 2026
Who's accountable for the results?
Trump ‘prepares for Iran strikes’ and warns Starmer not to give away Chagos Islands
“Donald Trump has demanded Sir Keir Starmer “not give away” Diego Garcia in a fresh attack on his Chagos Islands deal. The US president warned the Prime Minister that he was making a “big mistake” by entering into a 100-year lease with Mauritius. It is the latest in a series of about-turns from the president on the deal, which he previously called an act of “great stupidity” before giving it approval earlier this month. Mr Trump said Diego Garcia, the shared US base, was crucial for possible air strikes on Iran, which experts predict could take place within days, despite peace talks.” – Daily Telegraph
Trump pulls support for Chagos Islands deal – The Times
Trump renews attack on Starmer’s plan to cede UK ownership of Chagos Islands – FT
Brits evicted from sovereign territory 6,000 miles from home – The Sun
Trump ‘identifies timeline for strike on Iran’ – Daily Mail
President sends fighter jet squadron to ‘kick the door down’ in Iran – Daily Telegraph
Trump’s Chagos rant means he’s preparing to bomb Iran – Daily Telegraph
And Trump prepares to unleash ‘weeks-long blitz on Iran within days’ – The Sun
British couple jailed by Iran for 10 years, family says – BBC News
Obama thought Trump was a joke – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Abandon the deal to surrender Chagos – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Why Trump turned on Starmer’s Chagos deal – Katy Balls, The Times
Starmer ‘not being honest’ on defence spending, say ex-military chiefs
“Sir Keir Starmer is not being honest with the British public over defence spending, former military chiefs have claimed. In a damning open letter, retired heads of the Army and Navy and an ex-MI6 boss warned the Prime Minister that the Armed Forces had been “hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding”. They said that instead of receiving more money because of Labour’s planned increase in defence spending, funding pressures such as pay rises for servicemen and high inflation meant the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was being forced to make cuts. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is locked in talks with the MoD, which is demanding more money to cover the estimated £28bn shortfall in its budget.” – Daily Telegraph
Double defence spending or face war, Starmer warned – The Times
Reeves just gaslit millions of Brits – and made voting Tory an option again – Daily Express
Reeves to do ‘as little as possible’ in Spring Statement despite pressure to spend – Daily Telegraph
Retail chiefs warn of fresh job losses as Labour prices people out of work – Daily Telegraph
Comment
Defending the realm is the PM’s primary responsibility – Editorial, Daily Telegraph
Rayner has succumbed to the Westminster disease – James …
