Starmer refuses Trump's Strait of Hormuz blockade as oil prices set to rise

Starmer refuses Trump's Strait of Hormuz blockade as oil prices set to riseSir Keir Starmer has refused to join Donald Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane, which could drive up petrol costs for BritonsNewsPaige Ingram and Sophie Wingate Press Association Deputy Political Editor01:46, 13 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesKeir Starmer has declined to participate in Donald Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,(Image: AP)Sir Keir Starmer has declined to participate in Donald Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which could intensify economic hardship for Britons through increased petrol prices.‌The president threatened to halt tankers from entering or exiting the crucial oil and gas shipping route, a decision anticipated to push oil prices higher when markets reopen, following rises already triggered by Iran's control of the strait in response to the US- Israel conflict against it.‌The Prime Minister will address cost-of-living concerns with local residents during a visit to Greater Manchester later today.‌View 2 ImagesDonald Trump warned vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz(Image: AFP via Getty Images)READ MORE: Wirral family stranded in Milan as easyJet flight 'took off without them'READ MORE: Haiti citadel: At least 30 dead in stampede at popular tourist attraction in HaitiMeanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will head to Washington for International Monetary Fund meetings this week, having cautioned that "the war in Iran will come at a cost to British families and business".MPs return to Westminster from the Easter break on Monday with no end to the Middle East crisis in view and the future of a fragile two-week ceasefire hanging in the balance. Trump declared the shipping blockade following the collapse of US-Iranian peace negotiations in Pakistan, with both nations pointing fingers at each other.‌The American leader announced on his Truth Social platform that the US mi...