UK’s Starmer says he is “fed up” with bills rising because of Putin or Trump

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is “fed up” with families and businesses seeing their energy bills rise because of “the actions of Putin or Trump across the world” in an interview with British broadcaster ITV News.

“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world,” Starmer said on ITV News’ Talking Politics podcast.

He also said the world will have to “wait and see” whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens, adding that the effect on the economy was already visible and that Britain needed stronger energy resilience and independence.

The ceasefire was reached after President Trump gave Iran a deadline to reopen the strait or face what he described as the death of “a whole civilisation.” Asked about that language, Starmer said it was “not language I would use.”

“I’m clear that for the United Kingdom, we have our principles, we have our values, we will be guided by them in everything that we do,” Starmer said. “I’ve been saying we are not going to be dragged into this war because I say there must be a lawful basis. That matters if you’re going to commit our service personnel to risk their lives.”

Starmer’s remarks come as Trump has stepped up pressure on NATO allies over their response during the Iran war.

“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!,” Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The Wall Street Journal also reported this week that his administration is considering ways to punish NATO countries Trump believes were unhelpful to the U.S. during the war, including by moving American troops to other countries.