Starmer: ‘Fierce storm’ brought by US/Israel war with Iran going to ‘affect future of UK’

Calling for a ‘de-escalation and peace’ he said he wished to ‘reassure the British people that no matter how fierce this storm we are well-placed to weather it and that we have a long-term plan to emerge from it a stronger and more secure nation’.

In a statement on Wednesday morning Mr. Starmer declared it ‘is not our war’ and ‘we will not be drawn into the conflict’.

He referred to the disastrous impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the effect this has had on the cost-of-living, primarily through energy prices.

All of the UK’s diplomatic and political capabilities will be enlisted, he said, to make the Strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped.

Mr. Starmer invoked the energy shock of the 1970s in his address.

"I also know that people have a deep sense this will affect their family and their household. They can see it at the petrol pumps, and they worry about their energy bills.

"It is the job of Government to meet these moments, not just with immediate action but also with clarity about our direction.

“That’s what I remember about the 1970s, when my family could not pay every bill. We struggled through the energy shocks and price rises of that decade.

“But we always believed in the end that Britain would secure a better future for us. And I think that’s what’s been lacking in the crises of recent years,” he observed at a press conference at Downing Street.

The Prime Minister described the global situation currently as a ‘new and dangerous world’.

He promised greater co-operation with the European Union to address this.

"We will continue to stand up for the British national interest, and we will continue to do what we must to guide our country calmly through this storm.

“However, it is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union.

“Now, we have made progress on this front, on agriculture, electricity, emissions trading and more.

“But as the Chancellor has rightly pointed out, Brexit did deep damage to our economy.

“And the opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living, they are simply too big to ignore.

"So, in the coming weeks we will announce a new summit with our EU partners.

“And I can tell you, at that summit, the UK will not just ratify existing commitments made at last year’s summit.

“We want to be more ambitious. Closer economic cooperation. Closer security cooperation.

“A partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interests, and our shared future.

“A partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together.

“A world where this Government will be guided, at all times, by the interests of the British people,” Mr. Starmer stated.