PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer was accused of cheerleading for a global arms race after Downing Street confirmed today that it had held discussions with France on the use of its nuclear weapons against Russia.

No 10 said that Britain and France “regularly co-operate on issues to help safeguard” Europe after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would discuss the use of the weapons of mass destruction with his country’s allies.

Speaking with defence workers in the north-west of England today, Sir Keir claimed it would be a “big mistake” to think that “all we’ve got to do is wait for a deal now” between Ukraine and Russia.

It is crucial that “if there is a deal — and we don’t know there will be — that we defend the deal,” he claimed, adding that Europe must step up in terms of its own defence and security and that “the United Kingdom will play a leading part because we’ve always stepped up when it is required.

“So that’s why I’ve made that commitment on behalf of our country. It has to be done in conjunction with the United States,” the Prime Minister said.

Stop the War Coalition national convener Lindsey German said: “This is just the latest evidence of what we’ve always said — that a proxy war between Russia and Nato was always going to be decided in the US. 

“No-one should believe that the British government is focused on peace or security while it’s cheerleading a worldwide arms race and imposing militaristic austerity at home through billions of pounds of welfare cuts while massively increasing defence spending.”

The Peace Pledge Union’s Amy Corcoran added: “Neither Trump’s bullying tactics nor Starmer’s militaristic posturing will deter Putin’s aggression or lead to real peace and security.”