Keir Starmer had said the conflict linked to Iran had exposed the United Kingdom’s vulnerability to global shocks, arguing that Britain must pursue a new national path to build long-term resilience in an increasingly unstable world.
Writing in The Guardian, Starmer said he was focused on “the long-term, and remaking this country” so that British citizens were not left “at the mercy of events abroad,” warning that international crises were becoming more frequent and more disruptive.
In a separate interview on ITV’s Talking Politics podcast, he said he was “fed up” that households across the country saw energy bills fluctuate due to global political developments, including decisions linked to leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Starmer was on a three-day diplomatic tour of the Gulf region, where he met regional leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah before travelling to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar for further talks.
His visit took place amid continued strain on a fragile ceasefire linked to the Iran conflict, with disagreements emerging over whether the truce extended to hostilities in Lebanon and other regional theatres.
During the trip, Starmer also held a phone call with Trump, with Downing Street stating that both leaders discussed the need for a “practical plan” to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that had been severely disrupted by the conflict.
The disruption had already contributed to rising living costs in the UK, with increases in petrol and food prices driven by volatility in global energy markets linked to restricted maritime flows.
In his Guardian article, Starmer argued that Britain had been “buffeted by crises for nearly two decades,” citing the 2008 financial crash, Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic as examples of repeated systemic shocks that had exposed structural weaknesses in the economy.
He said past responses from Westminster had focused on short-term fixes rather than structural reform, but insisted that “this time, it will be different,” describing the Iran conflict as a “line in the sand” moment for policy change.
Starmer said government strategies such as expanding renewable energy capacity, strengthening workers’ rights and reforming welfare policies, including removing the two-child benefit cap, would help insulate the UK from global instability.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper echoed the prime minister’s position during a Mansion House speech, warning that international volatility had become a recurring feature of global affairs rather than an isolated event.
She said the Iran crisis followed earlier global shocks, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, arguing that instability had become the “new normal” and was likely to persist beyond any single conflict.
Political opponents criticised Starmer’s remarks, with Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake accusing him of undermining domestic energy security while failing to support North Sea production and welfare reform.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said Britain must strengthen ties with European allies, while Reform UK argued for greater domestic energy control and border enforcement.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the crisis highlighted the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence and strengthen European security cooperation, though he criticised the government for failing to deliver a clear economic plan.
Erizia Rubyjeana
