John Healey is in Downing Street to give an update on the UK’s defence operations regarding Iran. Watch along – he’s equipped with a map…
Healey says Russian subs were attempting to spy on the seabed in order to take out British cables and pipelines before scarpering on the arrival of the Navy. Chilling…
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is touring broadcast studios with UK demands for the Strait of Hormuz. Namely “not to have tolls, not to have restrictions, but to get that fully re-opened”…
Cooper said it was a priority for Starmer on his three-day trip:
“One of the crucial things that the prime minister will be talking to Gulf partners about is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz which is crucial for our Gulf partners. It is their trading route but it’s also vital for the global economy and no country should be able to hijack those international shipping transit routes in the way that Iran has. That’s why it’s so important we have this international cooperation to keep up the pressure to get the strait fully open. Not to have tolls, not to have restrictions, but to get that fully reopened.”
This runs counter to some statements from Trump and the intentions of the Iranian regime to charge something like $1 per barrel passing through the strait. That would be a disaster…
On the Today Programme Cooper congratulated her own government for what she said was acting early in the conflict: “We pre-deployed the F-35s.” No indication on whether British forces will be deployed to open the Strait of Hormuz…
Cooper additionally refused to say when the now-delayed Defence Investment Plan would come in, saying: “investment has already been allocated… we want to go further in future.” Labour incredibly is still refusing to get real on defence…
Starmer has landed in Saudi Arabia on his vanity jolly and spoken to broadcasters. Here we go…
He said there is “still a lot of work to do” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz:
“There’s work to do. It’s early days…”
He added there is “a real sense” of relief after the supposed ceasefire. He claimed his ‘leading’ work to reopen the strait was crucial “because the impact on our energy prices, you can see it on a daily basis over the last 39 days, it’s our job to make sure that the strait is open, that we’re able to get the energy that the world needs out and stabilise the prices back in the United Kingdom.” What will that work entail when the only navy warship in the region is docked for repair?
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Iranians agreed to a ceasefire under “overwhelming pressure” and that “President Trump had the power to cripple Iran’s entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy.” Calm down everyone – Starmer’s there now…
Starmer is set to burn over £200,000 in taxpayer cash for a self-promotion trip to the Gulf which serves zero purpose. You’ve seen this play before…
The PM is advertising his trip post-ceasefire as evidence that he is “leading international efforts” on Iran. Pass the sick cup…
“The Prime Minister will travel to the Gulf this week to meet leaders of countries who have been in the front line, and will set out his full support for the newly agreed ceasefire
In meetings with regional leaders, he will reiterate unwavering UK support and need for a long-term diplomatic resolution to make sure the ceasefire leads to a lasting agreement
He will hold talks on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent, with the United Kingdom continuing to lead international efforts”
Starmer’s eight trips in the last quarter of 2025 cost £1.41 million at a total mileage of 44,400. Four of them were on his favourite plane GGBNI. That gives an average cost of £31.70 per mile…
GGBNI took off from Stansted for Taif in Saudi Arabia this morning. It’s approximately 3,100 miles each way, so 6,200 miles return. At £31.70/mile, that’s roughly £196,500 for the return journey. Starmer will presumably fly elsewhere – Qatar being an obvious stop – on his trip. Getting the taxpayer bill well over the £200,000 mark for a vanity jolly…
Starmer is heading to the gulf for a (pre-planned) trip today after the announcement overnight of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. He says:
“I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.
Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”
His visit is “to meet with Gulf partners and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire in order to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict and protect the UK and global economy from further threats.”
“On the visit, the Prime Minister will make clear his government’s commitment to de-escalation, and hold further talks on practical efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following promising progress reported as a result of the ceasefire. As announced by the Prime Minister last week, the United Kingdom is continuing to lead the international effort, convening allies from across the world to ensure the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
He will also see in person the defensive support the UK has provided in the collective self-defence of our allies in the region and thank UK personnel for their brave service.”
It remains to be seen who will get Hormuz on the Strait and narrow…
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”