Independent readers largely backed Sir Keir Starmer standing up to Donald Trump over Iran, with many warning Britain must not repeat the mistakes of Iraq

Starmer faced a humiliating by-election defeat in Gorton and Denton to the Green Party last week

It comes as Yvette Cooper has also hit back at criticism of Starmer from Sir Tony Blair telling the former PM: ‘We have to learn the lessons from Iraq’

Starmer’s ‘purely defensive’ stance has won support among voters, but what challenges lie ahead for each party when it comes to their base’s view of war?

In fighting to saving his premiership, the PM is less able to lead even when he does the right thing, writes political editor David Maddox

Independent readers largely backed Sir Keir Starmer standing up to Donald Trump over Iran, with many warning Britain must not repeat the mistakes of Iraq