Rachel Reeves says she’s angry at Trump’s decision to launch war with Iran. 11 hours ago. Richard Wheeler,Political reporterand. Becky Morton,Political reporter. PA Media. Rachel Reeves said she is “angry” that US President Donald Trump chose to go to war with Iran, adding there is no “clear” exit strategy.. The chancellor said the decision is “causing real hardship for people now”, with higher inflation, weaker economic growth and lower tax receipts among the potential consequences.. Relations between the US and the UK have become increasingly strained following Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to be drawn further into the war with Iran.. The direct criticism of Trump by Reeves went further than Sir Keir, who earlier on Wednesday said he would not change his decision “whatever the pressure”.. Trump has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir in recent weeks after the PM refused to allow the US to use UK bases for its initial offensive strikes against Iran.. Sir Keir later gave permission for them to be used for defensive action against Iranian missile strikes, but this has not stopped Trump’s critical remarks.. Speaking to BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show, Reeves said: “I’m angry that Donald Trump has chosen to go to war in the Middle East – a war that there’s not a clear plan of how to get out of. It’s why we didn’t want to enter this.”. Reeves said the government is monitoring the situation closely and “trying to bring the oil and gas into the UK so that those supplies are there and to try and get the prices down”.. She also defended the government’s response to cost of living pressures, with opposition parties asking for more details on how to protect people from rising energy costs.. The Conservatives and Reform UK both want VAT to be taken off household energy bills, while arguing a planned hike in fuel duty from September should be cancelled.. The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the increase not to go ahead, while the Greens say the government should commit billions of pounds now to subsidise energy bills from July, when the price cap is recalculated.. Plaid Cymru said the government should set out now what support would be available if energy bills rise, while the SNP argues Holyrood should control energy policy.. The tax rate on petrol and diesel is due to rise from September, when a 5p cut made after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is set to be phased out over six months.. Reeves and Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds also met supermarket bosses on Wednesday to discuss how they can work together to “ease the cost of living for consumers and strengthen supply chains”, according to a government spokesperson.. Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium, described the talks as “constructive”.. She said: “Supermarkets are doing everything they can to keep food prices affordable and maintain the ongoing resilience of their supply chains.”. Iran denies Trump’s claim it requested ceasefire, calling it ‘fal
