Good morning. Today marks the conclusion of Keir Starmer’s three-day visit to Gulf nations, during which he has reflected on the current geopolitical landscape. However, no concrete plans have emerged regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran. Starmer, while engaged in discussions with leaders from the region, has primarily offered general statements without providing clarity on when the Strait of Hormuz might reopen. The resolution of this situation largely hinges on the actions of Iran and the unpredictable decisions of the U.S. president.
In an article published in the Guardian, Starmer has articulated his views on how the UK should navigate this period of global instability. He emphasizes the necessity for the UK to enhance its resilience by strengthening its economy, securing energy resources, fostering closer economic ties with Europe, and increasing defense collaboration on the continent. While these have long been priorities for the Labour Party, Starmer contends that the Iranian crisis underscores their significance. He urges that this moment should catalyze Britain to “forge a new path,” a sentiment he previously expressed regarding the Covid pandemic during his time in opposition.
Starmer elaborated on these themes in an interview with Robert Peston, the political editor at ITV, for his Talking Politics podcast. Contrary to some media interpretations, he did not express frustration with Donald Trump directly, although it is likely he feels considerable exasperation. Instead, Starmer focused on the burden of rising energy costs in the UK, which he attributes to international actions, including those of Trump and Putin. He stated, “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy, because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.”
Starmer’s approach to discussing Trump remains diplomatic; he refrains from overt criticism while still indicating his disagreement. In this instance, he has notably linked Trump to rising energy prices faced by British consumers.
Today’s agenda includes several key events:
- 9 am: John Healey, the Defence Secretary, will address the London Defence Conference.
- Morning: Keir Starmer is in Qatar for final meetings before returning to the UK.
- 10 am: Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, will unveil his party’s campaign battle bus in Glasgow.
- 11 am: Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, will present his party’s election slogan during a campaign event.
For those wishing to reach out, comments will be open from 10 am to 3 pm, and social media is another option. Direct messages can be sent to my Bluesky account @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social or on X at @AndrewSparrow, where I will be able to respond if necessary. I appreciate readers who point out any mistakes, no matter how small, and I find your questions valuable. While I cannot promise to answer all inquiries, I will do my best to respond to as many as possible.
In four weeks, Starmer and his team will begin evaluating the outcomes of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd, and English local elections. Although the elections are held on a Thursday, the counting will mainly occur the following day, with a complete picture likely emerging over the weekend. Expectations for Labour’s performance are low.
There was speculation that the election results might trigger a leadership challenge within Labour; however, this now seems unlikely. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary and a potential future contender, indicated in an interview with the Guardian that such a contest is improbable. Likewise, Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of Labour, has asserted that party members are against the idea of a leadership contest.
Powell mentioned in her discussion with the Financial Times that she engages with Labour members extensively and that they do not support a leadership challenge. She stated, “Some kind of messy, bloody internal contest is not going to help us address [the issues that matter to voters]… I think the membership would take a very dim view of [a leadership contest].” She also noted that members are appreciative of Starmer’s leadership during the Iranian crisis, emphasizing the need for “calm, stable, sensible, grown-up leadership” during these tumultuous times.
Additionally, Starmer has reached out to Donald Trump to discuss the importance of establishing a “practical plan” to facilitate shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in light of the recent ceasefire in the Middle East, as reported by the Press Association. This conversation took place during Starmer’s time in Qatar, where he held discussions this morning.
