UK Unions Urge Burnham to Press US President Trump on Iran

Ten UK trade unions representing more than 2.3 million workers urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham this week to press Donald Trump to end the Iran war and revoke US use of RAF bases for airstrikes, according to The Guardian.

Union leaders, including those from Unison, said Burnham should oppose further fighting in the Gulf to help reduce energy and fuel costs. “Since the war started, the average British household has seen its annual energy bill rise by £221, while monthly food bills are forecast to rise by £32.80,” they wrote in a letter to Burnham.

The letter said the government had authorised US airstrikes from British territories and named RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. “Revoking permission for the US to use these bases would have a significant impact on the US’s ability to further escalate a war that has been a catastrophe for people in the Middle East and an economic disaster for the world,” the union leaders wrote.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s comments in Washington set out the British government’s position. After meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Miliband said Britain had not joined offensive action and had allowed bases to be used “for defence” by allies, adding that the government’s priority was to secure “a lasting ceasefire” and tackle the cost of living crisis.

Miliband arrived in Washington for his first meetings with Trump administration officials since taking up the role the previous month. Rubio said there had been progress in discussions with Iran and Oman on getting more ships through the Strait of Hormuz, but no final agreement had been reached.