WE'RE FIGHTING FIT

Starmer vows to stay out of wider conflict as he insists economy will weather storm

- BY DAVE BURKE and ASHLEY COWBURN

KEIR Starmer refused to let Donald Trump drag Britain into the Middle East conflict yesterday as he insisted our economy was robust enough to weather the storm.

The US President again hit out at the Prime Minister, accusing the UK of not showing enthusiasm for his war on Iran, while Starmer warned of uncertainty ahead but said the country had built up a national resilience.

The US President said: "I was not happy with the UK. I think they'll be involved maybe, but they should be involved enthusiastically." Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, Starmer said the UK was working with allies to draw up a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a key shipping route for 20 per cent of global oil and gas.

But he has so far refused to commit warships, as demanded by the American president.

Starmer said: "While taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.

"I want to see an end to this war as quickly as possible, because the longer it goes on, the more dangerous the situation becomes and the worse it is for the cost of living back here." The Middle East crisis threatens to drive up fuel prices, which would have knock-on effects across the economy.

Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped off in the past fortnight amid the threat of missile and drone attacks.

Starmer said: "We're working with all of our allies to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impacts." He said the crisis which began when the US and Israel launched a barrage of missiles against Iran on February 28 widespread alarm.