SIR Keir Starmer was today accused of “shamelessly” exploiting the war in Iran to try to reverse Brexit.
The PM was blasted for “blaming everyone but himself” for the cost-of-living pressures strangling households and the UK economy.
As the US-Israel war with Iran rages, he said Britain must move closer to the EU, towards “a partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together”.
He said: “We want to be more ambitious, closer economic cooperation, closer security cooperation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interest and our shared future.”
Speaking at Downing Street, Sir Keir said an EU summit will be held in the coming weeks to “ratify existing commitments”.
He stood by Labour’s manifesto pledges not to rejoin the customs union or single market, but left the door ajar to fighting the next election on an anti-Brexit ticket.
Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said “Inaction Man” Sir Keir had conducted “more summits than the Himalayas”.
He added: “We need fewer talking shops and a lot more action.”
He went on: “Keir Starmer is shamelessly using his failure to address the war in Iran as a justification to break another promise and rejoin the single market.
“This was his goal all along, but Labour refused to be straight with the British people.”
Tory Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride accused Labour of blaming “everyone but themselves” for the current economic woes.
He added: “Tax hikes and Labour’s Net Zero obsession are driving up costs and hitting families in the pocket.”
During the press conference, Sir Keir said the Iran conflict “will affect the future of our country” but insisted Britain was “well-placed” to weather any storm.
He said the country would not have to relive the energy shocks of the 1970s but refused to commit when pushed on whether he will stop fuel duty rising in September.
Other countries have taken action on looming fuel shortages caused by the conflict which saw an oil depot owned by British firm Castrol in Erbil, Iraq, go up in flames in an Iranian drone attack.
Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese urged households not to “take more fuel than you need”.
The AA advised Britons to cut their speed by ten per cent to improve fuel efficiency.
It came as the RAC said the average price for diesel on forecourts yesterday was 184.2p, up 29 per cent since the conflict started.
Petrol was up 16 per cent at 153.7p.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary warned the crisis on the roads could soon reach the skies.
The budget airline kingpin said jet fuel supplies could be disrupted by next month if the conflict continues and the vital Strait of Hormuz remains closed to oil tankers.
The outspoken boss said his more “immediate concern” was whether there will be enough fuel to keep planes in the sky.
He admitted the industry is at the mercy of the ongoing blockade of the world’s most important waterway for shipping.
Mr O’Leary said: “We don’t expect any disruption until early May, but if the war continues, we do run the risk of supply disruptions in Europe in May and June.
O’Leary believes there is a “reasonable risk” that between ten and 25 per cent of supplies could be affected in the next two months.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she had to be cautious with the nation’s finances to avoid increasing inflation, interest rates and Government borrowing costs.
She added: “If I promised that I could alleviate every price increase for every person, I wouldn’t be telling the truth, because all that you will be doing if you do that is pushing up inflation, interest rates and taxes in the future.”
Today the Conservatives will pledge to scrap the carbon tax entirely in a bid to “stop the deindustrialisation of Britain and cut bills”.
The party warned that the levy was “taxing our energy- intensive industries out of existence”.
Mortgage’s pain
HOMEOWNERS are facing a painful new squeeze — with millions warned to brace for soaring mortgage bills.
The Bank of England’s latest report warns that the oil shock “will weigh on growth, increase inflation and tighten financial conditions”.
The Bank held interest rates at 3.75 per cent last month — and hinted they could go up owing to inflation.
As a result, lenders have already raised mortgage rates and pulled 1,280 products from the market.
The hit could be brutal for those coming off older fixed deals.
Two-year fixed rates are up from 4.84 per cent to 5.84 per cent in a month and five-year fixes are up from 4.96 per cent to 5.75 per cent.
Monthly repayments are expected to jump by £417 to £444 on average.
