Sir Keir Starmer has rebuked JD Vance after the US vice-president appeared to insult Britain by calling it a “random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

Mr Vance’s comments were instantly denounced on this side of the Atlantic, with many pointing out that British troops fought alongside the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a press briefing this lunchtime, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister, and the country as a whole, is full of admiration for all British troops who have served, for instance, in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom have lost their lives in the process and have obviously served alongside allies, including the United States.”

In further comments, the Prime Minister’s spokesman refused to clarify whether the UK had been “ambushed” by Donald Trump’s announcement on Monday that he would stop all military aid to Ukraine.

The news came just hours after Sir Keir told MPs he was unaware of speculation of any announcement by the US president.

In a humiliating climbdown, Mr Vance took to X to insist he had not insulted British troops.

He said: “This is absurdly dishonest. I don’t even mention the UK or France in the clip, both of whom have fought bravely alongside the US over the last 20 years, and beyond.”

However, he added: “But let’s be direct: there are many countries who are volunteering (privately or publicly) support who have neither the battlefield experience nor the military equipment to do anything meaningful.”

Many users were quick to point out that the only countries to offer ground troops so far are the UK and France, so his original comments could only have been directed at the two European allies.

JD Vance’s comments have sparked condemnation from nearly every political party in Britain, including Nigel Farage.

The Reform UK leader and usual ally of Donald Trump blasted: “JD Vance is wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.”

“For 20 years in Afghanistan, pro-rata – our size against America’s – we spent the same amount of money, we put the same number of men and women in. We suffered the same losses.

“We stood by America all through those 20 years, putting in exactly the same contribution. And alright, they may be six times bigger but we did our bit. So, on this one JD is wrong.”

His comments spark a marked departure from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who claimed JD Vance had not criticised Britain and those criticising him “are getting carried away”.

She said: “I know JD Vance quite well, I’ve looked the comments. I don’t think he actually said that. A lot of people are getting carried away, they’re saying loads of things and getting animated. Let’s keep cool heads.”

“America is our closest ally, and I believe that President Trump and JD Vance want peace. They’re looking after their national interest. We need to do so as well.”

Confusingly one of those condemning the Vice President including Kemi Badenoch’s own shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge, who called them “deeply disrespectful”.

Mr Cartlidge said: “Britain and France came to [US] aid, deploying 1,000s of personnel to Afghanistan, including my own brother and numerous parliamentary colleagues past and present.”

“It is deeply disrespectful to ignore such service and sacrifice.”

Meanwhile, referring to Mr Vance, a military source told the Express: “I didn’t see him in the firebase in Helmand, or the start line for Iraq.

“He’s just a gobby REMF,” which is military slang for “rear-echelon motherf*****” – an insult used against soldiers who enjoy easier non-combat jobs away from the front line.

Mr Vance served for four years in the US Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq for six months in 2005 as a military journalist, but did not experience combat.

Liberal Democrat MP Mike Martin, a former army officer and member of the Defence Select Committee, also told the Express: “I’ve been under fire with American soldiers in Afghanistan – a war we joined to support them after 9/11.”

He said Mr Vance’s comments about Britain were “deeply offensive”.