Watch Stephen Dixon grill the Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake over the party’s “change of heart” over the Iran war after gas prices surge by more than 20 per cent.
Prices skyrocketed this morning after two waves of strikes from the Islamic Republic caused “extensive damage” to Qatar’s main gas hub overnight, on which many European countries are reliant.
As a result, Mr Hollinrake urged the Government to lower fuel duty for Britons and cut energy prices across the country.
However, Britons have already been afflicted by soaring oil prices after Iran blocked off the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime shipping route. So far, costs have surpassed an eye-watering $100 per barrel.
When asked if the UK should send a warship to the vital passage, Mr Hollinrake argued such a move would be “dangerous”, piling the accountability onto Washington DC and Tel Aviv.
He added: “This is the US and Israel’s actions they’ve taken in that region. I think we understand we send some military planners over to the US to help them decide how best to do that.
“But I think that’s really the responsibility of the people who have taken these actions in the region to secure those shipping routes.
“It’s not the case that we’ve ever advocated involving ourselves in military action right now, other than the fact we do think we should strike back when we are when we are being hit.
The party chairman piled pressure on No10 to cut energy prices for Britons
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“For example, our base in Cyprus was hit by a drone that was clearly from malevolent forces. And we think in those instances, of course, we should strike back.
“But that’s not to say we take an active role in the actions that have been taken by the US and Israel in the Middle East,” he clarified.
Stepehn admitted he was “confused” by Mr Hollinrake’s position.
Putting Mr Hollinrake’s feet to the fire, he said: “You’re running away from from this, which is your right as a party to do so.
Gas prices have surged by more than 20 per cent in response to the US-Iran war | GETTY / REUTERS / TRADING ECONOMICS
“But when all this was kicking off, initially, you were condemning the Prime Minister for not allowing the US to use our bases to launch their attack runs and what-have-you…
“And now you seem to be saying, ‘well, it’s not our water, nothing to do with us. It’s all to do with the United States and Israel’. You’re taking your hands off it. Why the change of heart?”
In response, the Tory MP insisted it was not a “change of heart”, adding his party “always” advocated letting America use shared bases with the UK.
“We would never see ourselves restricting them in those situations if they feel they need to use those bases,” he continued.
“We don’t have an insight into everything the US is planning or the reasons for doing so. But to stop the US and allies using their bases was wrong.
“We have never advocated joining those actions in terms of that, that unilateral bombing of Iran and indeed now Lebanon. That’s not what we’ve advocated.
“Never have. It’s been very clear.”
The Tory refused to stop there, reiterating: “If I can explain it to you again, yes, the US should be able to use our shared bases. No, we’ve never advocated UK planes and missiles proactively hitting those that region.”