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Starmer Blames Trump and Putin
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer openly blamed President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for the volatile energy prices wreaking havoc on UK households.
“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world”
He said he is fed up with families seeing their bills go up and down because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.
The comments came amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing global oil prices to soar.
Starmer drew a direct parallel between Trump and Putin.
He also criticized Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon during the ceasefire.
Starmer's remarks mark a rare and direct rebuke of a sitting US president by a British prime minister.
Strained UK-US Relations
The special relationship between the UK and the US has been under immense strain since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran.
Starmer refused to allow the US to use British bases for offensive strikes.
Trump shared a video portraying Starmer as scared of the US president.
Starmer said the UK would not be dragged into the war because there must be a lawful basis.
He said our bases will not be used for wider offensive on civilians.
Starmer arrived in Doha to hold talks about the war in Iran.
Strait of Hormuz and Economic Impact
Starmer has tried to position Britain at the centre of a coalition helping to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Prime Minister set out his discussions with Gulf leaders on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz”
Starmer and Trump spoke about the need for a practical plan to get shipping going through the strait.
Starmer said the UK’s position is that open means open for safe navigation and toll-free passage.
The closure of the strait has already hit stock markets and pushed up oil prices.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for toll-free travel.
Trading routes from Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman were all hijacked by Iran.
Starmer's Values and Political Position
Starmer distanced himself from Trump's verbal attacks on Tehran.
He said British values and principles would guide everything the UK does.
Trump compared him to Neville Chamberlain.
Starmer said he makes decisions on what is in the British national interest.
The UK will not be dragged into a war without a lawful basis.
Starmer wrote that the war in Iran must become a line in the sand.