Starmer has let it be known that the war against Iran is not "his" war. He has repeated this many times. He says he'll not be "dragged into it".
But he already did get dragged into it. He supported this war - in line with the "US-UK special relationship" - by allowing US aircraft to land, refuel and take off from, among others, RAF Fairford, Mildenhall and Lakenheath here in Britain, Akrotiri in Cyprus, as well as Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.
In the meantime, his government is under fire from its own side for not preparing adequately for "war"... Former Labour defence secretary, "Lord" Geoffrey Robertson says that this is a disgrace... only weeks after Tony Blair told Starmer off for his refusal to join Trump, shoulder to shoulder, as he'd joined Bush in 2003 in the invasion of Iraq...
Labour ministers and MPs defend themselves: they say that huge defence expenditure is being prepared When told that it needs to be even higher - and that it can be paid for by cutting what the opposition calls a "giant" welfare bill - they explain that they're doing just that: cutting welfare, but just not as much as the Tories would like.
One could argue that a large welfare bill is shameful - but one could also argue the opposite. That it's a response to the needs of a record number of working class poor and unemployed for whom the capitalist class refuses to provide decent jobs. And yes, the bosses' "giant" meanness has lately broken all records: they refuse to pay their share for the maintenance of social infrastructure and claim a small increase in national insurance tax prevents them from employing anyone!
As for increasing defence spending; the less of it the better, as far as the working class is concerned. The jobs we want are not in the weapons' industry!
Blocking the blockage
However, there's no escaping the energy crisis which Trump's war has triggered. The wholesale price of gas has soared upwards by 65% in recent weeks. So far, unleaded petrol has gone up by as much as 20% and diesel by 35%. Heating oil is up by 70%!
And now, after declaring his 2-week cease-fire and presiding over failed talks in Pakistan, Trump has decided to make matters far worse for everyone - including his own countryfolk and MAGA supporters.
So at the time of writing, the US Navy is blockading the already partially-blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Trump claims to be using his own (very) mighty leverage against the Iranian's (very) puny leverage - in order to obtain an agreement to end his war... He adds that this will be "very soon", thanks to his clever manoeuvres and his brilliant understanding of "the art of the deal"! And if not, he'll just resume bombing Iran's people and their homes, schools and hospitals, as before.
In the meantime a large section of the world's capitalist class is having a minor fit, due to the crippling effect this double blockade is having on global trade.
Of course, what's bad for some 1s good for others! The giant oil capitalists are raking it in! Shell is expected to see its net income rise by £2.7 billion, up to £19.7 billion, and BP is expecting to rake in an extra £2bn!
What's more, Trump's family & friends have been doing a bit of insider-trading. which will add more millions to their already substantial holdings... This speculation for accumulation is, of course, also open to those capitalists who complain of losses due to the physical blockage of trade...
The "art" of extortion
It took only minutes for the price of a barrel of Brent Crude oil to shoot up to over $120 (from $73 before the 28 February), when Trump and Netanyahu bombed Teheran. In the US, while wholesale "gasoline" went up by 45.53%, it cost almost double by the time it got to the pump!
What's revealing about these figures is the level of racketeering by the oil and petrol profiteers - each, a link in the chain of extortion - from a barrel of crude - all the way to refined super-unleaded in petrol station forecourts.
Because it isn't an abstract, mindless, market that sets the price - it's human beings (although some of us have other names for them)! Which is why there are measures which governments can take - like imposing price controls. But would they? Not on your Nellie!
The £117 reduction in household energy bills has already been wiped out several times over. A new energy price cap in July will increase bills by a predicted £288! We could all be in for a rough rida. But not if we decide that we're going to close ranks and ride over the bosses instead. We need to strike for wage rises which cover all of these price rises, and more!