Ed Miliband: Government may send drones to get Strait of Hormuz open

The backlog of oil tankers unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz because of the war in Iran is threatening to send economic shockwaves around the world. This week, Donald Trump called on allies to ‘send ships to the area’ to help open the passage. On Sky News this morning, Trevor Phillips asked Energy Secretary Ed Miliband how the government would respond to the president’s request. Miliband acknowledged the importance of opening the strait, and said the UK is talking to its allies about the issue. Phillips asked if the UK will deploy drones to the area. Miliband said there are a ‘range of things’ the government could do, including the use of autonomous mine hunting drones, but he called for de-escalation as the ‘best and most conclusive’ way to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

Ed Davey: ‘I’d say to Donald Trump: No’

On the BBC, Laura Kuenssberg spoke to Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey, who claimed the UK should not be at the president’s ‘beck and call’. Davey said the prime minister should make decisions based on our national interest, and........

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