Burnham says 'world has an opportunity' to resolve Iran war after US midterms

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that the “world has an opportunity now” to focus on resolving the Iran war and easing the cost of living following the midterm election results in the United States.

“That’s what the voters, in my view, are saying in the United States,” the Labour leader said.

Donald Trump has been left humiliated after a 'blue tsunami' that saw the Democrats take control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives as voters in conservative bastions shunned the President’s Republican party.

Mr Burnham said US voters are saying they want to “see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter to people”.

Asked for his reaction to the results and whether he thought they would make Mr Trump more unpredictable, the PM said: “President Trump has accepted the results, and I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that’s the cost of living.

“That has been the issue that I have put front and centre in my first three months in Downing Street, and we’ve made moves. But I can’t get people’s cost of living pressures down until the conflict in the Middle East is resolved.

“The conflict between in Ukraine started by Russia. These are the things we have to focus on now, and I hope the world has a moment to do that.

“And certainly, in my calls with leaders, that is what I will be asking everybody to do.”

Asked whether he was worried there might be an escalation in the Middle East following the results, he said: “Well, I’ll be working for de-escalation to make it very clear. You know, we want to see a resolution, the Strait of Hormuz fully opened again. That’s what we will be working towards.”

Mr Trump was left to hide out in his private residence at the White House as the midterm results flooded in late on Tuesday.

HIs initial response to the results had been to blame the candidates themselves, before posting a picture of a MAGA-style red hat with “VETO” written on it.

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