UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reiterated that the UK will not enter the Iran conflict, stating it is “not our war and we are not going to be dragged into it.”
Speaking at the launch of Labour’s local election campaign in Wolverhampton, Starmer positioned the government’s stance against that of political opponents, stating that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would take a more interventionist approach. He warned that entering a conflict without a clear plan would carry significant risks.
The Prime Minister said the government is focused on protecting households from cost-of-living pressures linked to the conflict, particularly rising energy and fuel costs.
Speaking at a Downing Street meeting on Monday (30 March) with executives from the shipping, insurance, and energy sectors, Starmer told business leaders there must be a “joint effort” between the government and the private sector as the Middle East conflict threatens to disrupt daily life.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that higher prices and slower economic growth are likely, with energy importers in Asia and Europe bearing the brunt of the disruption caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to IMF economists, countries reliant on gas-fired power, such as the UK and Italy, are most exposed, while crop-nutrient supply interruptions threaten harvests and food prices globally. The IMF concluded that although outcomes may vary, “all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth,” particularly affecting low-income populations.
ℹ️ The Guardian, PoliticsHome, The National Scot
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