Burnham says world can resolve Iran war after US midterms

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 13:52 · Archive

PM Andy Burnham said the world has a chance to resolve the Iran war and tackle cost of living after US voters rejected Republicans in the midterms.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the world has an 'opportunity' to resolve the Iran war and ease the cost of living following US midterm elections in which Democrats took control of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua, Burnham interpreted the results as voters wanting action on cost of living.

The Republicans suffered major defeats, losing Senate seats in former strongholds including Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Ohio, Maine and Iowa. Donald Trump, whose party was badly beaten, acknowledged that the conflict had damaged Republicans, saying people 'didn't like it' when they had to pay more for fuel, though he said he had no regrets about launching the war.

Burnham told reporters: 'President Trump has accepted the results, and I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that's affecting us all, and that's the cost of living.' He said this had been his priority in his first three months in Downing Street.

'But I can't get people's cost of living pressures down until the conflict in the Middle East is resolved, the conflict in Ukraine started by Russia,' Burnham added. 'These are the things we have to focus on now, and I hope the world has a moment to do that.'

Burnham was asked whether Trump's electoral defeat would make him more unpredictable. The PM did not directly address the question, instead emphasising the opportunity for global unity around resolving these conflicts.

How it is being reported

• Time to focus on cost of living, says PM after US election resultsAndy Burnham says prices won't come down until the US's conflict with Iran is resolved.BBC Politics · 4 Nov, 14:30
• Burnham urges Trump to 'resolve' Iran war saying Republicans were battered in midterms because Americans want action on cost of livingAndy Burnham risked wading into US politics as he suggested the battering in the midterms represented an 'opportunity' to settle the crisis.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 13:39
• Burnham says US voters want to see world focus on cost of living after midtermsThe Prime Minister said high prices cannot be curbed until the Iran war is resolved.Evening Standard · 4 Nov, 13:30
• Burnham says 'world has an opportunity' to resolve Iran war after US midterms‘That’s what the voters, in my view, are saying in the United States,’ PM saidThe Independent · 4 Nov, 13:25

In this story: Andy Burnham · Donald Trump · Democratic Party · Republican Party · United States · United Kingdom

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