Trade unions have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to address the cost of living crisis by pressuring Donald Trump to swiftly end the conflict in the Middle East. Leaders from 10 unions, including Unison, the UK’s largest, called on the prime minister to oppose further fighting in the Gulf to help reduce energy and fuel costs.
To exert pressure on Trump, the unions stated that Burnham must begin by revoking permission for the US to use RAF bases for launching airstrikes on Iran. The unions cited RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia as bases that have become increasingly important to the US due to Iranian counterstrikes on its Middle East bases.
The demand follows Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's meetings in Washington this week with Trump administration officials. Miliband is expected to discuss the Middle East crisis with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who noted progress in discussions with Iran and Oman regarding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, though no final agreement has been reached.
The general secretaries of the 10 unions, representing over 2.3 million workers, wrote to Burnham, stating that he should do more to oppose “the US and Israel’s devastating, illegal war on Iran.” They claimed the war is “deepening the cost of living crisis faced by our members and the British public,” with average British household energy bills rising by £221 annually and monthly food bills forecast to increase by £32.80 since the war began.
A spokesperson for No 10 referred to the foreign secretary’s comments in the US. Miliband stated after meeting Rubio that the UK had not joined offensive action but had allowed its bases for defence by allies. He emphasised that the government's priority is to tackle the cost of living crisis and work with the US to achieve a lasting ceasefire in the Iran war, acknowledging that “we are not there yet.”