Andy Burnham has said voters in the US want to “see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter” following the midterm elections.
It was a resounding and historic victory for the Democrats, who won both the US Senate and House of Representatives, taking control of Congress for the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency.
Thirty-three of the 100 members of the upper chamber were being elected this year, while Republicans were defending a majority in the 435-member House.
Historic victories and firsts
It was a night of many firsts, including Adam Hamilton becoming Kansas state’s first Democrat senator since 1932. Pastor Adam Hamilton beat the Republicans in Kansas.
The Prime Minister declined to say whether he viewed the midterms as part of a wider decline of the popular right globally, but argued that fixing the cost of living could not be done while nations were divided.
He told broadcasters: “Well, I think people want to see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter to people, and that’s what the voters, in my view, are saying in the United States.
“Let’s get focused in a laser-like way on those cost-of-living issues and I think around the world there’s a recognition that countries can’t do that on their own, and can’t do that when we have division between nations.
“I’ve been working hard as Prime Minister to bring a new approach, a new approach in the Middle East, and the Foreign Secretary set that out.
“A new approach to Europe and we believe that will help us get growth back up and reduce those cost-of-living pressures.”
Reaction to Trump and the Middle East
Asked whether he thought the results would make Donald Trump more unpredictable, the Prime Minister said: “President Trump has accepted the results, and I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that’s the cost of living.
“That has been the issue that I have put front and centre in my first three months in Downing Street, and we’ve made moves. But I can’t get people’s cost of living pressures down until the conflict in the Middle East is resolved.”
Mr Trump said he didn’t see the Republican losses “as a hit on me.” He reiterated that he’ll work with the Democratic-controlled Congress and doesn’t “want to be just sitting there for two years vetoing everything”.
The US president had been struggling in the polls for months, as American voters grew increasingly weary over the economic impact of his war on Iran and his aggressive use of tariffs.
Gas prices skyrocketed when Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israeli war, causing widespread disruption to global oil flows. Many Americans report that they are struggling to afford basic necessities.
Fears of further escalation
There are fears that there might be yet another escalation in the Middle East.
On the eve of the midterms, American forces launched what they called limited, defensive strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, in response to an alleged Iranian attack targeting a US aircraft.
President Trump said on Monday that a deal with Iran to end the eight-month war still "could happen," insisting Tehran "wants a settlement, as soon as possible."
Mr Burnham said he was “working for de-escalation”, adding: “You know, we want to see a resolution, the Strait of Hormuz fully opened again.
“That’s what we will be working towards.”
