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Middle East
13 April 2026
Lead MP
Keir Starmer
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
DefenceEconomyForeign Affairs
Other Contributors: 32
At a Glance
Keir Starmer raised concerns about middle east in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the House to update on his visit to the Gulf, discussing the evolving situation in the Middle East and its implications for Britain’s security. He expressed determination to honour victims of Southport and thanked brave individuals defending UK interests during the US-Iran conflict. Starmer met with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait to deepen defence and economic engagement amid regional instability caused by Iran's indiscriminate attacks. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for a sustainable ceasefire, including Lebanon’s inclusion, while welcoming diplomatic efforts and condemning Israel's strikes. He thanked Pakistan and other partners for their role in diplomacy. Starmer reiterated Britain's commitment to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, committing to convene an international summit with President Macron to establish a credible plan for reopening the strait. Addressing economic impacts, he highlighted government investments such as £50 million for heating oil customers and freezing fuel duty until September. He called for a different response reflecting changing global dynamics, focusing on economic security through closer ties with European allies, energy independence, and strengthening defence alliances like NATO. Starmer concluded by stating that Britain must rise to the volatile world calmly but strongly.
Kemi Badenoch
Con
Saffron Walden
Question
The shadow Foreign Secretary urged the Prime Minister to [2D [K to take decisive action on energy security by granting North Sea drilling l [1D [K licences and cancelling planned fuel duty hikes. She also called for a 3% G [1D [K GDP defence spending increase, urging the government to publish its investm [7D [K investment plan.
Minister reply
No specific ministerial response provided in the [K given text.
Question
The war in the middle east is having a real effect on my [2D [K my constituents. From fuel to fertiliser, prices are increasing, and action [6D [K action needs to be taken to alleviate the consequences. Although there are [K immediate steps that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor should be taking [6D [K taking, not least reversing the planned increase in fuel duty, the bigger p [1D [K picture involves reopening the strait of Hormuz. What thought has been give [4D [K given to the role that the UK can play in clearing the strait of mines? In [K particular, did the Prime Minister raise the potential deployment of our au [2D [K autonomous minesweeping capabilities, which are already in the region, duri [4D [K during his discussions?
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is absolutely right about opening t [1D [K the strait and playing our part—there is the political and diplomatic eleme [5D [K element, but there is also the issue of military capability. What we are do [2D [K doing with the countries that we have brought together in a loose coalition [9D [K coalition, and will meet in person later this week, is to look across those [5D [K those capabilities and draw them together. We do have capabilities when it [K comes to minesweeping; I will not go into operational details, but the hon. [4D [K hon. Lady knows what they are.
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s leadership in supporting [K our regional partners and our national interests, particularly that of free [4D [K free navigation. However, that lies outwith our most immediate security pro [3D [K problem, which is defending Europe from Russian attack in all its forms. Do [2D [K Does the Prime Minister agree that we should recognise Russian-Iranian co-o [4D [K co-operation, and that we must not let that distract us from our urgent nee [3D [K need to rearm collectively and defend our country and the continent of Euro [4D [K Europe?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for drawing attention to t [1D [K the really important issue of the relationship between Russia and Iran, and [3D [K and the assistance that Russia has given to Iran in relation to the intelli [7D [K intelligence that is being used during the conflict. We must never lose sig [3D [K sight of the fact that we are facing a war on two fronts, and Russia is a h [1D [K huge threat to our continent and our country.
Question
Will the defence investment plan be signed before the lo [2D [K local elections on 7 May?
Minister reply
We are working to finalise the defence investment [10D [K investment plan. It is really important that we do not make the mistakes th [2D [K that the last Government made; we inherited plans that were unfunded and no [2D [K not deliverable, so it is really important that our plan is robust. We are [K finalising it, but it will be a robust plan that serves for the future defe [4D [K defence and protection of this country.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South East
Question
We now know that an agreement was about to be reached on [2D [K on uranium enrichment by Iran. However, Israel decided to bomb Iran, as did [3D [K did the USA, engaging in an illegal, immoral and dangerous war of choice. E [1D [K Even during the ceasefire, which included Lebanon, Israel continues to bomb [4D [K bomb south Lebanon and Beirut, displacing millions of people. This is typic [5D [K typical of Israel: just before an agreement is reached, it kills negotiator [10D [K negotiators and bombs countries. This is not a faraway conflict; my constit [7D [K constituents are paying the price for it through higher fuel costs and risi [4D [K rising mortgages and household bills. What additional steps is the Prime Mi [2D [K Minister taking to help my constituents, as well as people across the count [5D [K country and the world, by bringing peace—unlike Members on the Conservative [12D [K Conservative Benches, who seem to be finding it very amusing?
Minister reply
That is precisely why we are working with other c [1D [K countries to de-escalate the situation and get the strait of Hormuz open. A [1D [K As I said in my statement, that will not be easy, but notwithstanding that [K challenge, we will continue to do that work.
Question
In the Prime Minister’s 17-page statement, there was not [3D [K not one word of condemnation for the actions of the US, despite the fact th [2D [K that it started this illegal war. Last week, Trump threatened to wipe out a [1D [K an entire civilisation. The Prime Minister rightly condemned the horrific I [1D [K Israeli attacks on Lebanon, but we all know that the war criminal Netanyahu [9D [K Netanyahu just ignores what we say, because there are no consequences. Will [4D [K Will the Prime Minister take action, put sanctions on Netanyahu and withdra [7D [K withdraw all permission for the US to use UK bases and UK airspace, to make [4D [K make clear that we will not be an accomplice to the rogue actions of Donald [6D [K Donald Trump, which endanger us all?
Minister reply
The US is using the bases to attack the Iranian c [1D [K capability to fire missiles into the region, including at our citizens and [K our nationals. Members will have seen the images—going into hotels and the [K bases where our military are based. Is the hon. Lady seriously suggesting t [1D [K that we should reduce protection for our people in the region and expose th [2D [K them to attacks that they would not otherwise be exposed to? That, to me, w [1D [K would be a dereliction of duty, and I will never do that.
Hayes and Harlington
Question
I think the House is at one with the Prime Minister on t [1D [K the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire. The problem that we face is that [4D [K that today there have been more airstrikes against the Lebanese, and the Is [2D [K Israeli artillery is now shelling Lebanese cities and towns. Many of us fee [3D [K feel that it is because Netanyahu is out of control, and Donald Trump is no [2D [K not willing to exert that control or influence to bring him into line. In t [1D [K the Prime Minister’s next discussions with European leaders that he is succ [4D [K successfully convening, will he place on the agenda a comprehensive Europea [7D [K European sanctions strategy, so that we can exert some influence to prevent [7D [K prevent Netanyahu running out of control and creating problems for the glob [4D [K globe, and not just the middle east?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. Cl [2D [K Clearly, Lebanon should be included in the ceasefire. These attacks must st [2D [K stop, and we need to be really clear about that. We will work with our alli [4D [K allies on both those issues.
Question
We know that the defence investment plan was originally [K due to be published last year. As it is a 10-year plan, will it be a 10-yea [6D [K 10-year plan from publication in this financial year, 2026-27? Does that ch [2D [K change the cost envelope? Is it a 10-year plan or a nine-year plan in terms [5D [K terms of how it is being financed?
Minister reply
It is a 10-year plan, and it mirrors our strategi [8D [K strategic review. It sits alongside the defence spending commitments that w [1D [K we have made and are implementing with the 2.5%, and the commitments that I [1D [K I made at the NATO summit last year.
Question
The House has repeatedly been told that the Government h [1D [K have permitted the US to use British military bases for defensive purposes [K only, but amid the widespread US targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ir [2D [K Iran, including schools, hospitals and bridges, we have not been told how t [1D [K those restrictions work in practice. Can the Prime Minister confirm whether [7D [K whether US military aircraft have taken off from RAF Fairford or Lakenheath [10D [K Lakenheath carrying heavy munition payloads? If they have, is there any US [K operational policy for action from our bases in place that has been approve [7D [K approved by this Government? If not, is it the case that the working defini [6D [K definition of defensive action is simply, “Don’t ask, don’t tell”?
Minister reply
Let me assure my hon. Friend and the House that t [1D [K that is not the position. The use is for defensive action only. I am partic [6D [K particularly concerned to make sure that we take every measure available to [2D [K to protect our nationals in the region, of whom there are very many. The us [2D [K use is for defensive action, and that is monitored. It has been monitored s [1D [K since the bases began being used.
Question
The Prime Minister is right to suggest that the tremors [K provoked by this conflict will reverberate long after the kinetic fighting [K has finished. There is perhaps no better example of that than Cyprus, where [5D [K where Government officials, all the way up to the level of the Prime Minist [6D [K Minister, have questioned Britain’s continuing sovereignty over our soverei [7D [K sovereign base areas there. May I ask the Prime Minister what he has done t [1D [K to reassure the Cypriots and the Cypriot Government that Britain is a trust [5D [K trusted and reliable neighbour and partner, and that our continuing soverei [7D [K sovereignty is immutable?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising this matte [5D [K matter. I assure him that I have spoken to the President a number of times [K about the bases and about security in particular—which is, of course, a con [3D [K concern to him and to his public—and that those discussions are ongoing.
Question
This war, in which we are rightly playing no part, has m [1D [K my constituents fearing for the future, not least in relation to rising ene [3D [K energy and fuel costs. That underlines the crucial importance of bringing d [1D [K down the cost of energy and securing energy independence; but will the Prim [4D [K Prime Minister reassure my constituents that, while the Government are taki [4D [K taking the necessary steps to provide us with long-term energy security thr [3D [K through renewable energy and new nuclear, they will go further in the short [5D [K short term and tackle some of the profiteering that is happening, as well a [1D [K as directly supporting hard-pressed families and small businesses in my con [3D [K constituency in respect of the cost?
Minister reply
Yes. We will bear down on any profiteering, at th [2D [K the same time as pushing forward at speed for energy independence.
John Lamont
Conserv [8D [K (Conservative
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Question
May I ask the Prime Minister about one particular conseq [6D [K consequence of this war in the middle east, namely the rising cost of heati [5D [K heating oil, diesel and petrol? Everyone is struggling—I have spoken to man [3D [K many businesses and people who are really struggling to pay their bills—but [9D [K bills—but the support from the UK and Scottish Governments is only for peop [4D [K people claiming benefits. When will the UK Government reconsider that appro [5D [K approach and ensure that everyone, including working people and businesses, [11D [K businesses, is receiving enough support?
Minister reply
We will set out the plans as they develop. Some o [1D [K of the ways in which we protect and support have to be universal, and, in f [1D [K fact, the cut in energy bills until the end of June is universal, but we ar [2D [K are looking at the most appropriate support on a wider basis.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
Fresh from a weekend knocking on doors, I can confirm to [2D [K to the Prime Minister that on the streets of my constituency there is no ap [2D [K appetite for further involvement in this war. There are some—including, app [3D [K apparently, the Leader of the Opposition—who say that while they might not [K have chosen to start the war, now that the bombs are flying we have no choi [4D [K choice but to support our allies. Will the Prime Minister confirm that Pres [4D [K President Trump’s America is not a reliable ally, that Prime Minister Netan [5D [K Netanyahu’s Israel is not a reliable ally, and that we must work with our r [1D [K reliable allies in Europe to end the conflict and ensure that working peopl [5D [K people in this country do not pick up the bill?
Minister reply
We work with the Americans on a daily basis on de [2D [K defence, security and intelligence—it is important that I reiterate that po [2D [K position to the House—and, of course, we are working with them in relation [K to the use of our bases to take the action that is necessary to protect our [3D [K our civilians and our nationals. At the same time, we need to work more clo [3D [K closely with our European allies on defence security, on energy and on the [K economy.
Ben Lake
PC
Ceredigion
Question
The Prime Minister was right to mention the untold econo [5D [K economic damage that this crisis has already wrought on households and busi [4D [K businesses across the country owing to increased fuel costs, but does he sh [2D [K share my fear and that of the agricultural sector that the prolonged closur [6D [K closure of the strait of Hormuz may also feed through to higher food inflat [6D [K inflation? May I ask him what measures the Government are considering to he [2D [K help mitigate the potential consequences of a prolonged closure of the stra [4D [K strait?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention [K to that issue. There will be consequential impacts beyond the immediate imp [3D [K impact on energy, which is why we are monitoring and keeping under review t [1D [K the steps that we can take. However, I return to my opening point: the abso [4D [K absolute focus must be on getting the strait reopened as quickly as possibl [7D [K possible, because all the time it is closed to free navigation the damage b [1D [K being done is being compounded, which is why it is so important that we wor [3D [K work with our allies to that end.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Question
Last week, President Trump was making the most outrageou [9D [K outrageous and dire threats in order to try to reopen the strait of Hormuz; [7D [K Hormuz; this week, he wants to keep it shut. Can the Prime Minister shed an [2D [K any light on the United States’s strategic objective behind this latest mov [3D [K move, what can be done to reopen the strait of Hormuz, and what more this G [1D [K Government can do to protect our people from the economic consequences of t [1D [K this mess?
Minister reply
Let me be clear: I want the strait open, not shut [4D [K shut. That is what we have been working on for the last few weeks, and we w [1D [K will continue to work on it. When I spoke to President Macron yesterday, we [2D [K we proposed pulling together a leaders-level summit later this year to cont [4D [K continue the work that we are already doing. To be very clear with my hon. [K Friend and the House, that is to get the strait fully open, because that is [2D [K is the single most effective way to limit the damage that is being done to [K all our economies.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Question
When the Prime Minister was in the middle east, did the [K subject of the UK’s dependence on helium come up? It is an element that we [K do not produce in the UK, and it is vital for things such as MRI scans in t [1D [K the NHS.
Minister reply
We discussed a range of issues. I will not go int [3D [K into all the details, but we did agree that where we are working together a [1D [K already, we should double down and do even more in relation to resilience—w [12D [K resilience—which goes to the hon. Lady’s question—both economically and def [3D [K defensively. We will take forward that work.
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s continued clarity on the [K need for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire, but Israel’s tactics in L [1D [K Lebanon—forced displacement, evacuation orders, 165 children killed and 87 [K medical workers killed—are straight out of its Gaza playbook. Does the Prim [4D [K Prime Minister agree that in Lebanon, as in Palestine, there must be proper [6D [K proper accountability for these war crimes, because this age of impunity pu [2D [K puts us all in greater danger?
Minister reply
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. [9D [K question. It absolutely shows why we must keep pushing for Lebanon to be in [2D [K included in the ceasefire. It is vital that we do so, and of course there m [1D [K must be accountability for all the actions that are taken, in any respect, [K in this conflict.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Question
I have been overwhelmed by the number of constituents wh [2D [K who have written to me over the past two weeks about the situation in the G [1D [K Gulf. They are of course concerned about their energy bills and the cost of [2D [K of living, but overwhelmingly they are outraged at the actions of all the a [1D [K actors in this conflict—Iran, Israel and the United States. What they want [K from their Government is more and stronger leadership on the international [K stage to open the strait of Hormuz. Will the Prime Minister consider going [K to the United Nations Security Council with an emergency motion to get that [4D [K that done and to condemn the actions in the middle east?
Minister reply
As the hon. Lady probably knows, we have been sup [3D [K supporting measures in the UN over the last two weeks, particularly some of [2D [K of those that were put forward by our Gulf allies, and I had the opportunit [10D [K opportunity to discuss those last week in the Gulf. We will continue to wor [3D [K work with them and others on building the necessary coalition to do all tha [3D [K that we can to get the strait open.
Stella Creasy
Lab
Walthamstow
Question
I welcome the Prime Minister’s tough stance in response [K to President Trump’s demands to get involved in this conflict, and his comm [4D [K commitment that Lebanon must be part of the ceasefire. Our constituents nee [3D [K need us to give them hope that they will not have to continue to live in a [K world that is driven by the uncertainty of when the White House takes to Tr [2D [K Truth Social. We can do things to de-escalate conflict, and one of those th [2D [K things is to support the two-state solution in Israel and Palestine, which [K the Prime Minister knows is at the heart of much uncertainty in the middle [K east. Given that the conduct of settlers on the west bank directly undermin [8D [K undermines the possibility of peace and the possibility of a Palestinian st [2D [K state, will he commit to including their conduct in his conversations about [5D [K about the ceasefire and how we can give hope to people in the middle east a [1D [K and peace to people around the world?
Minister reply
I reiterate to my hon. Friend and the House our s [1D [K support for the two-state solution, which is the only way to achieve a viab [4D [K viable long-term peace in the region. Of course, the settler violence is a [K threat to that. It is wrong in principle, and we will continue to bear down [4D [K down on it.
Question
For years, and well before this conflict took place, Mem [3D [K Members across the House have called on the Government of the day to proscr [6D [K proscribe the IRGC. Regardless of whether it has been the Prime Minister or [2D [K or other Ministers answering, there has always been a pivot to economic san [3D [K sanctions against the IRGC. We know that the Iranian regime has found ways, [5D [K ways, through cryptocurrency and fake corporate structures, to evade those [K sanctions. What assessment has the Prime Minister made of the effectiveness [13D [K effectiveness of UK sanctions against Tehran? On the presumption that those [5D [K those sanctions are failing, what precise action will he take to strengthen [10D [K strengthen them?
Minister reply
The IRGC has been sanctioned in its entirety. In [K relation to what more we can do, obviously we have been looking at state-ba [8D [K state-based threats, which will almost certainly require legislation—the ho [2D [K hon. Member will be familiar with the review in that regard. There are furt [4D [K further things that we can do, and hopefully we can work across the House o [1D [K on some of those issues.
Question
It is clear now that there was no plan behind this reckl [5D [K reckless war, and that the resulting energy crisis will have huge impacts b [1D [K both here in the UK and around the world. Can I thank the Prime Minister fo [2D [K for his cool-headed approach in the face of pressure from the leaders of Re [2D [K Reform and the Conservatives to follow the US blindly into this war? Does h [1D [K he agree that this demonstrates how important it is that we finally get off [3D [K off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and continue our record investment in gre [3D [K green energy?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend on both fronts. It was ver [3D [K very important that we made it clear from the start that we would not be pl [2D [K playing any part in this war, not least because of the consequences. What t [1D [K the war has flushed out is the need to get off the international market and [3D [K and have independence of energy bills in this country.
Question
British drones flew over Lebanon hours before and after [K the Israeli massacre that killed at least 18 people in a Bekaa valley city, [5D [K city, among 300 people across the region that day. We know that UK drones a [1D [K and surveillance flights have been used to feed operational information to [K the IDF during the genocide in Gaza, and it is deeply concerning that this [K may now be the case in Lebanon. Will the Prime Minister confirm whether the [3D [K these flights were co-ordinated with the Lebanese army? Was intelligence sh [2D [K shared with Israel or with the United States? What is our armed forces’ rol [3D [K role in this land grab and ethnic cleansing? Have any weapons supplied by t [1D [K the UK to Israel been used in Lebanon?
Minister reply
I have been clear throughout, and I will be clear [5D [K clear with the hon. Gentleman: this Government are guided by the principle [K that any action we take, anywhere in the world, must have a lawful basis. T [1D [K That is the principle that I have applied throughout this conflict and thro [4D [K throughout the time this Government have been in power.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Question
I commend the Prime Minister—and also the leadership fro [3D [K from the Foreign Secretary and the National Security Adviser, I am sure—for [8D [K sure—for the work that is being done. I welcome the news about trying to re [2D [K resolve the issues in the strait of Hormuz, but I share the concerns that h [1D [K have been voiced across the Chamber about the situation in Lebanon and the [K west bank. Closer to home, the Resolution Foundation has stated that median [6D [K median working-age households will be hit by a £480 additional cost this ye [2D [K year, which in my constituency is being described as the cost of Trump. Wil [3D [K Will the Prime Minister explain more about what can be done to assist house [5D [K households here in the UK?
Minister reply
The single most important thing is to de-escalate [11D [K de-escalate and get the strait of Hormuz open. That is why we are working s [1D [K so hard with other countries to do so, because the impact that it is undoub [6D [K undoubtedly having on our economy is affected by how long the strait remain [6D [K remains closed. That is why we have to focus on that.
Peter Swallow
Con
Bracknell
Question
My constituents feel the impact of rising fuel prices ev [2D [K every time they fill up their cars, with Bracknell fuel being between 2p an [2D [K and 10p more expensive than neighbouring towns. What conversations have the [3D [K the Government had with the Competition and Markets Authority to clamp down [4D [K down on this unfairness?
Minister reply
We are working on a number of fronts to ensure th [2D [K there is no profiteering from the price discrepancies, and we aim to de-esc [6D [K de-escalate the situation by getting the strait of Hormuz open.
Jim Allister
DUP
Upper Bann
Question
Given that rising fuel prices have swelled Government co [2D [K coffers through extra VAT tax take, would it be unreasonable to expect a so [2D [K socialist Government to redistribute wealth by reducing fuel duty?
Minister reply
We are considering all contingencies and will con [3D [K continue to do so while focusing on de-escalation and opening the strait of [2D [K of Hormuz.
Jim Dickson
Con
Dartford
Question
Would the Government consider additional measures to sup [3D [K support those most vulnerable with the cost of living, given the impact of [K the war?
Minister reply
Yes, we are considering further support while foc [3D [K focusing on de-escalation and getting the strait of Hormuz open.
Batley and Spen
Question
The Prime Minister stated that energy bills had gone dow [3D [K down from April, but for constituents reliant on kerosene and LPG, this is [K not true. Will he correct the record and tell us when he will do something [K to help these households?
Minister reply
We have brought household energy bills down by £1 [2D [K £100 from April until June, and we also announced support for those using o [1D [K oil to heat their homes.
Ayoub Khan
Lab
Poplar and Limehouse
Question
When will the Prime Minister state that the attack on Ir [2D [K Iran is illegal under international law?
Minister reply
We are working with a coalition to de-escalate th [2D [K the situation and get the strait of Hormuz open.
Andrew George
Lib Dem
St Ives
Question
What more can be done to ensure that no UK arms componen [8D [K components end up in the hands of Netanyahu's Government or that there is n [1D [K no trade with illegal settlements?
Minister reply
We have taken measures on both fronts within the [K framework of law.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Given fuel protests in Ireland and concerns from Norther [7D [K Northern Irish farmers, HGV users, and fishing sectors about rising prices, [7D [K prices, will the Prime Minister do something similar for us?
Minister reply
We are looking at what support can be put in plac [4D [K place across the board but de-escalation of the situation is crucial.
Adnan Hussain
Lab
Bradford West
Question
What assessment has been made of the breakdown in US-Ira [6D [K US-Iran talks, Israel’s role in it, and ongoing strikes in Lebanon? Will he [2D [K he condemn continued hostility?
Minister reply
We have spoken to Pakistan about finding a way fo [2D [K forward through diplomacy and de-escalation.
Shadow Comment
Kemi Badenoch
Shadow Comment
The shadow Foreign Secretary Kemi Badenoch praised the Prime Minister for his statement and paid tribute to UK servicemen and women. She emphasised Britain's vulnerability due to the Middle East conflict, urging decisive action to protect British citizens' interests. Badenoch advocated for rapid energy security measures beyond July and criticised Labour’s policy on oil and gas production in the North Sea. She called for immediate granting of drilling licences and scrapping planned fuel duty hikes. Regarding defence readiness, she highlighted a more dangerous world than a decade ago, demanding a 3% GDP defence spending increase by Parliament's end. Badenoch urged putting party interests aside to develop a joint plan, identifying necessary spending cuts to fund increased defence investment.
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