UK Prime Minister Starmer said the Iran war must become a turning point for the UK after 20 years of crises, and pledged to strengthen Britain's economic and military power to cope with a more 'turbulent and dangerous' world.
In an article published in The Guardian on Thursday, Starmer said the Middle East crisis has led to higher fuel prices in the UK and is expected to further drive up inflation and cause economic disruption, but this must become a 'watershed' for the UK.
He said that for nearly 20 years, the UK has been battered by crises, listing the 2008 global financial crisis, the subsequent austerity policies, Brexit, the Covid pandemic, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Starmer said: 'Now the Iran war must be a watershed because how we emerge from this crisis will determine the fate of our generation. We can no longer hope to return to the world of 2008—we must carve out a new path for the UK: one that strengthens our energy, defense, and economic security in a new era.'
He said: 'We will not look back. We will not attempt to recreate a world that has already passed; we will build a stronger, safer, and more resilient Britain.'
Starmer said: 'The UK will not stray from its course.'