The PM was right to say no to Trump

We are living in an increasingly dangerous world. The old alliances that have protected the United Kingdom for generations are feeling strained and what used to be a series of pacts based on a common viewpoint now feel more like a series of personality-led transactions.

Since its inception by Labour MP and Foreign Secretary Ernie Bevin, NATO has been the cornerstone of the UK’s security. A partnership of equals routed in a shared set of values with the ultimate backstop that an attack on one is an attack on all.

Bevin crafted this aspect of NATO because he was a staunch trade unionist who understood the power of collective action.  He saw through his role in the Transport and General Workers Union that if you could mobilise your allies in support of your own protection, you stood a greater chance of being able to both defend yourself, but more importantly, prevent conflict in the first place.

He said, “The Pact must be regarded as a concrete expression of the identity of view long held among the Western nations. It recognises the common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law between nations. It is not elaborate; its simplicity is apparent.”

NATO is now being tested by a President of the United States who often acts without consideration of the consequence and believes that power is exercised through aggression. The UK with other NATO and EU allies, in resisting the calls from the US to join the bombing raids on Iran, have demonstrated the shift in position of global diplomacy.

I think the Prime Minister was right not to join the rush to war by the US. We did not know the legal basis for the action nor could we see an end point. In Parliament and the media, though, we heard Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives argue that where America goes, the UK should follow.  These dangerous comments where echoed and turbo charged by Nigel Farage and Reform UK who saw no immediate problem with rushing into military action simply because the United States had demanded it.

By saying NO to the President of the United States, the Prime Minister caught the mood of the nation and rightly made clear the independence of the UK foreign policy.  Our actions are restricted to defensive measures and those actions necessary to protect British Citizens and our interests.

But we are not immune to the impacts and effects of the war. The closure of the Straight of Hormuz has caused huge disruption to international shipping. Our citizens win Cyprus, are within range of Iranian rockets and attacks have been launched on our bases while the attacks on the oil refineries across the Middle East by both Iranian and US forces has caused the price of oil and gas to skyrocket. 

We feel this here at home. The price of petrol and diesel has increased and the wholesale price of gas has doubled in the last couple of weeks. Our historic pottery industry has already been battling against increased energy costs before these events, but the added price shock will just pile on the pressure to an industry which is already close to breaking point.

The Prime Minister has pledged support to tackle these prices increases. He and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have stepped in to guarantee a price for heating oil for those who live in rural communities, and they have warned supermarkets that price gauging at the petrol pump won’t be tolerated. The Chancellor has also extended the 5p cut in Fuel Duty until September, meaning that Fuel remains cheaper today than it would have been under the plans of the Conservatives.

This all underscores the importance of our international alliances. Bevin’s view of collectivism as a way of protection was one that is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s. The best way for us to have stability at home isn’t to lock ourselves away but to engage with the world and ensure that those international rules are upheld because whether we’re in a war or not, we feel the effects so everything we can do to prevent instability helps us at home.