Rachel Reeves expressed her frustration with Donald Trump today, criticizing his approach to the Iran conflict. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is working tirelessly to find a diplomatic resolution to the growing tension in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Chancellor condemned the recent US-Israeli military actions against Tehran, describing them as a strategic misstep lacking both a clear exit strategy and defined objectives.
Amidst the escalating crisis, the Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron have announced plans to co-host a crucial summit in Paris this Friday. The aim of this meeting is to devise strategies for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas is transported.
However, any initiatives discussed during the summit will only be implemented once the immediate hostilities have subsided.
As tensions continue to rise, Rachel Reeves is set to travel to Washington for International Monetary Fund meetings, where she plans to address the consequences of the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.
Ms Reeves is heading for Washington for IMF meetings today, where she will discuss the fallout from the Middle East chaos.
She is expected to urge counterparts to ‘follow’ her example in responding to the pressures – even though the UK economy has already been stalling and inflation is higher than other major countries.
Drivers have been feeling the pain at the pumps, with fears that energy and food bills will follow in the coming months. The Resolution Foundation think-tank has estimated that the average UK household could be £480 worse off this year than without the war.
Rachel Reeves branded the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran ‘folly’ saying there had been no ‘clear exit plan’ or aims
The Chancellor said she is ‘angry’ at Donald Trump over the Iran War
The IMF is due to publish its world economic outlook later, with updated growth and inflation forecasts around the globe.
In the Gulf, Donald Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports has come into effect, with the US president threatening to ‘eliminate’ Tehran’s fast attack vessels if they come near American warships. However, at least one Chinese tanker appears to have passed through unchallenged.
Speaking to the Mirror before she left for the US, Ms Reeves said: ‘This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve.’
‘And as a result the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked.’
Ms Reeves added: ‘Obviously no sensible person is a supporter of the Iranian regime, but to start a conflict without being clear what the objectives are and not being clear about how you are going to get out of it, I do think that is a folly and it is one that is affecting families here in the UK but also families in the US and around the world.
‘I don’t think it was the right decision. But it was absolutely the right decision for Keir Starmer – our Prime Minister – to keep us out of this conflict.’
Sir Keir told MPs yesterday that the UK-French initiative would involve ‘military planning to provide assurance to shipping’ as well as diplomatic efforts.
Mr Macron has previously said the countries participating in the initiative would work on a ‘strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties to the conflict’ which ‘is intended to be deployed as soon as circumstances permit’.
He said the summit would bring together countries ‘prepared to contribute alongside us’ to the ‘peaceful multinational mission’.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.’
In Westminster, a new Cabinet committee has been established to deal with the fallout from the Iran conflict.
No 10 insiders compared the new panel to the groups set up under Tory prime ministers to deal with Brexit preparations and Covid.
The intervention came as the PM and Emmanuel Macron announced they will be co-hosting a summit in Paris on Friday
A source said the ‘new central structure’ would focus on ‘medium-term scenario planning to respond to developments in the region over the coming weeks and months’.
Alongside the ministerial committee, whose full membership has not yet been disclosed, senior officials will meet under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo.
The new structure is seen as an acknowledgement that the situation will continue to have an impact on the UK for some time, but meetings of the emergency Cobra committee will still be held to respond to immediate crises.
