Over the past two weeks, international events have dominated the news following US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran, which resulted in the death of Iran's then Supreme Leader. The situation has continued to escalate, with the US and Israel carrying out further strikes in Iran and Iran launching attacks of its own against neighbouring countries in the Gulf.

 Let me be very clear, the Iranian regime is an utterly foul one. They murder their citizens with little regard, crush protest with extreme force and have long sought to destabilise the region. They attempt to extend their reach to the UK through backing more than 20 potential lethal attacks on UK soil in the last year alone. It is an abhorrent regime and one that can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. 

 The UK played no role in the strikes on Iran, and I believe this was the right approach. Many of us remember Iraq and the events of the early 2000s, and it is vital that we learn from those experiences to avoid repeating past mistakes. I am confident the Prime Minister has reflected on those lessons, which is why the UK has chosen not to take part in any offensive action. 

What the UK has done is strengthen our defensive measures and allow the US to use our bases strictly for defensive purposes. British lives have been put at risk by Iran's actions, and it is right that we have taken steps to protect them.

Now, there has been plenty of discussion around President Trump's response to the UK's decision in regard to this conflict and the special relationship our two countries share. We should be very clear that the special relationship does not involve us rolling over and doing exactly as we are told at the drop of a hat. 

The Prime Minister must put the interests of our country at the forefront of any decisions taken. The US President has shown himself, on multiple occasions, to exhibit bullying and brazen behaviour. Our Prime Minister has rightly done what we all teach our children to do: stand up to a bully. 

We must act in accordance with international law and also consider the impact of this conflict on our country and its people. As I write this, it has been confirmed that the price of a barrel of oil has reached $100 for the first time since 2022. What does this mean for the average motorist in our towns? What does this mean for inflation? What does this mean for household energy bills in our towns and villages?

The simple and uncomfortable truth is that prices will rise, something none of us wants to see. The Prime Minister was right to emphasise this week that the longer the conflict continues, the greater the risk of an impact on our economy, and that the Government's responsibility is to stay ahead of those challenges. 

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What this requires is level and calm heads, which I firmly believe our Prime Minister has. We must not be pushed into decisions and actions we know are not right for our country. 

Finally, I know for those who have family or friends in the region, that the last few weeks have left them worried sick. I have met with representatives from the Foreign Office to raise cases from constituents in the region. Please note I am only able to assist if the individual themselves gets in touch with me, rather than a family member or friend, and gives me explicit permission to act on their behalf. My small team and I continue to raise these cases with the Foreign Office. 

 As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any issues or concerns you would like to raise with me. I can be reached at [email protected] or on 01926 882006.