Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed frustration with the impact of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on UK energy costs. In an interview with ITV's Robert Peston, Starmer said he was 'fed up' with families and businesses seeing their bills fluctuate due to the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.
Starmer also appeared to condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over continued strikes on Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreed on 7 April. 'That should stop – that’s my strong view,' Starmer said, dismissing technical questions about whether the strikes breached the agreement.
The Prime Minister spoke with Trump on Thursday about a 'practical plan' to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the Middle East ceasefire. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the leaders discussed convening partners to agree a viable plan to get shipping moving again.
Writing in the Guardian, Starmer pledged his government would not merely manage crises but would ensure Britain is 'a country where people are not at the mercy of events abroad'. He described the war in Iran as a 'line in the sand' that will define a generation.
Starmer's relationship with US and Israeli leaders has been strained since the war with Iran began. Trump has mocked Starmer, sharing a video portraying him as scared and stating he is 'no Winston Churchill'. Other European leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron and Spain's Pedro Sánchez, have also faced Trump's criticism.
