Time to focus on cost of living, says PM after US election results

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the US midterm results offered a chance for world leaders to focus on the cost of living, while pressing for the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine to be resolved. He said those conflicts were preventing his government from easing household pressures, and called the issue a priority in talks with other leaders.

Donald Trump’s Republicans suffered heavy losses, with Trump acknowledging that higher fuel prices linked to the Iran war had contributed to the result. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Louise Haigh called for de-escalation and said the war had worsened the cost of living crisis. Trump said the US was “locked and loaded” if action against Iran proved necessary, while indirect talks remained stalled; Democrats’ control of Congress may limit funding but does not remove Trump’s foreign policy authority.