Burnham pledges Middle East de-escalation push after US midterms

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says ending the Middle East conflict is essential to easing pressure on household budgets, pledging to pursue de-escalation after the Democrats secured control of Congress. Responding to a question about whether the election outcome could make Trump more unpredictable, Burnham said: “Trump has accepted the results, and I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that’s the cost of living. “That has been the issue that I have put front and centre in my first three months in Downing Street, and we’ve made moves. But I can’t get people’s cost of living pressures down until the conflict in the Middle East is resolved.” Pressed on the risk of further fighting following the vote, he said: “Well, I’ll be working for de-escalation to make it very clear. You know, we want to see a resolution, the Strait of Hormuz fully opened again.”