Starmer Defends UK Iran Stance, Reviews Fuel Duty

Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended his government's decision to avoid direct involvement in the US-led military campaign against Iran during a tense session of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, while placing a planned fuel duty increase under review amid rising energy costs from the conflict.

The exchange in the House of Commons centered on the ongoing war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets last week. Starmer, responding to questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, reiterated that the UK has limited its support to defensive measures, including allowing US access to British military bases in the region after the strikes commenced. He emphasized efforts to de-escalate the situation alongside international partners. "Fuel duty is frozen. It is going to remain frozen until September," Starmer told lawmakers. "And we will keep the situation under review in light of what's happening in Iran."

Badenoch pressed Starmer on the timing of the fuel duty rise, scheduled for September, as petrol prices have already climbed due to surging global oil prices triggered by the conflict. She criticized the government's handling of the economic fallout,...