Starmer says UK working with allies on ‘viable plan’ to open Strait of Hormuz
Sir Keir Starmer says he is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Prime Minister has resisted Donald Trump’s demands to send Royal Navy warships to help secure the vital shipping route for oil and gas which has been effectively closed to tankers by the Iran war. He said the UK was working with countries, including European allies, on a “viable plan” to ease the crisis, which has driven up global oil prices. The Prime Minister also set out measures to ease the cost-of-living pressures in the UK, with a plan to help households reliant on heating oil. Setting out his response in a Downing Street press conference Sir Keir said he would not allow the UK to be drawn into a “wider war” in the Middle East. He said: “We’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts.” The Prime Minister acknowledged the impact of rising oil and gas prices on households in the UK. He announced the Government had issued a “legal direction” to energy companies to pass on savings from government policies already announced. And he set out a £53 million package of support for “vulnerable” heating oil customers, focused on “those households that are most exposed”.
Published: by Radio NewsHub