MPs and unions have condemned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The PM’s chief secretary Darren Jones said today that a “peaceful” transition of power should be reached quickly, but declined to say whether the US strikes on Caracas were legal, insisting it was for international courts to decide.

Sir Keir has resisted calls to take a tougher stance.

Asked whether he would condemn the attack, he said on Saturday that he wanted to “establish the facts” and speak to Mr Trump, later insisting Britain would “shed no tears” over the end of Mr Maduro’s government.

In an interview with the BBC, he said there were “differences of views on various things” between him and the US leader, but added that “our defence, our security and our intelligence relationship with the US matters probably more than any other relationship we’ve got in the world.”

Labour MP Kim Johnson said: “Do we as a country still stand for international law and sovereignty?”

And MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon called the PM’s statement “shameful and reckless,” adding: “International law is being cast aside to appease Donald Trump.

“The world will see this hypocrisy for exactly what it is.

“The Prime Minister should respond to an illegal bombing and kidnapping by Trump in exactly the way he would if Putin had carried it out.

“Either Keir Starmer believes in international law or he doesn’t. You can’t pick and choose. Time to stand up to Trump’s gangster politics.”

He added on X: “Trump’s war on Venezuela is about stealing its oil. It’s also about turning the whole of Latin America back into a US colony.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the US president believed he could “act with impunity,” adding: “The PM and Foreign Secretary should be condemning this illegal strike and breach of international human rights law.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote on X: “Bombing a sovereign nation and kidnapping the president is the behaviour of a cowboy state.

“The United States’ attack on Venezuela is illegal — and it is utterly shameful that the UK government refuses to condemn this reckless act of war.”

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey called on the government to demand an immediate end to hostilities and the return of Venezuela’s president, stressing that “only by following the UN Charter can we create a framework for peace.”

A statement condemning the attack has been signed by trade union general secretaries including Daniel Kebede (NEU), Fran Heathcote (PCS), Jo Grady (UCU), Eddie Dempsey (RMT), Steve Wright (FBU), Steve Gillian (POA), Maryam Eslamdoust (TSSA), Sarah Woolley (BFAWU) and Gawain Little (GFTU). The Prime Minister’s refusal to denounce it was also condemned by Unison general secretary Christina McAnea.