Chief Secretary to the Treasury Comments on Middle East Developments
Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray provided an update during a media round this morning. Speaking to , he described the situation in the Middle East as "early days" and stated that the government is "monitoring very closely" the developments, particularly regarding their impact on oil and gas prices.
"I can understand because people have been concerned about the cost of living for a long time, so when people see what they do on the news, they will wonder ‘what does this mean for us?’"
"What I would say to people is that it’s early days in terms of what’s happening in the Middle East. We’re all very concerned about what’s happening and, as a government, we’re monitoring very closely, but it is early days, and in terms of how people will experience their energy bills in the immediate future, they will see that reduction come through via the price cap on 1 April."
UK Imposes Emergency Brake on Study Visas for Nationals from Four Countries
The UK government has implemented an emergency brake on visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. This measure includes a halt on study visas for these countries and work visas for Afghans. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, justified the decision by stating that an increasing number of individuals from these countries were exploiting legal migration routes to claim asylum.
"Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused. That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity. I will restore order and control to our borders."
Home Office data indicates that 39% of the 100,000 people who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through legal migration routes such as study visas.
Minister Rejects Trump’s Assertion That Keir Starmer Is ‘No Churchill’
Welcome to the UK politics live blog. A government minister has dismissed former US President Donald Trump’s claim that Labour leader Keir Starmer is "no Winston Churchill." The minister argued that Starmer has approached recent challenges with "a cool head, a real clarity of purpose," and "a determination to do the right thing for the British people."
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the UK’s stance despite the Prime Minister eventually agreeing to allow the US to use Diego Garcia for strikes on Iranian missile facilities. This marked the third time within 24 hours that Trump criticised Starmer for the UK’s refusal to participate in the initial strikes, highlighting his frustration with western allies for not fully supporting the action.
When asked about Trump’s comments, James Murray told Times Radio:
"No, look, president Trump has expressed his disagreement with the decision that we took about joining those initial strikes on Iran over the weekend. But I think what’s really important when we think about that decision is to recognise that the prime minister took the decision he did in the national interest, you know, and he’s approached this with a cool head, with a real clarity of purpose, with a real focus and a determination to do the right thing for the British people. That’s why we took the decision we did not to join those offensive actions, the initial strikes, a few days ago, but then when it came to a defensive action in order to protect British citizens, we stepped up and made sure that we are doing what we need to do to keep British people safe."
Trump told The Sun on Monday that the UK’s decision had consequences, and in an interview with The Telegraph, he said Starmer had taken too long to allow the US to use UK bases.
Starmer has previously been recognised for maintaining a working relationship with the unpredictable US president. However, on Monday in the House of Commons, he expressed doubts about the legality of the US action in Tehran.
Regarding the significance of Trump’s remarks, Murray said:
"Well, I think, you know, the president has expressed himself using his words, but what’s important for me is that the prime minister is taking the right decisions for the UK, and, of course, that the special relationship between the US and the UK continues. You know, we work together with the US, day in, day out."
A Royal Navy destroyer is expected to arrive in Cyprus next week following Keir Starmer’s announcement that it would be deployed to defend the country and British bases there after hostile drones targeted RAF Akrotiri on Monday.
The UK government plans to charter a flight from Oman in the coming days to prioritise vulnerable British nationals in the region amid ongoing strikes. The Foreign Secretary has noted that the situation is "fast-moving" due to the ongoing attacks and the threat of retaliatory strikes from Iran.
The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, stated that Labour has "the right economic plan" to address a world that has become "yet more uncertain" as she delivered a spring forecast that downgraded growth expectations for this year. The UK is projected to face weaker economic growth and higher unemployment than previously anticipated.
A recent YouGov poll revealed a surge in support for the Green Party, which rose to second place behind Reform, while Labour’s support fell to its lowest level to date.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (left) and Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray arrive for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA
