The UK government led by Keir Starmer is facing pressure to help consumers, as rising fuel, energy, and mortgage costs, exacerbated by the conflict, take their toll. Last Monday, Starmer pledged to support 'working people' suffering from intensified cost-of-living pressures due to the conflict. As a first step, the government announced a financial package of £53 million ($70 million) to help the most vulnerable households cope with rising heating costs. Separately, a UK official source confirmed to AFP that Iran unsuccessfully attempted to strike the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on Friday. The base, about 4,000 km from Iran, is one of two the UK has allowed the US to use. The Times reported that Starmer will soon call an emergency meeting with senior ministers and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey to discuss plans to help families cope with rising living costs due to the Iran conflict.
