𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

It comes after weekend reports said the Government had drawn up plans to send more military assets to the region. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the Government was “talking to allies” and that the UK was “intensively” looking at what can be done to reopen the oil artery.

Ships have been turned away from the narrow sea passage which serves as a chokepoint in the international oil trade. Since the start of the war the Iranian military has rained missiles and drones down across the region bringing traffic to a standstill.

The move follows President Trump demanding that the UK join other countries in a taskforce to reopen the Strait, despite saying just a week ago that the US does not “need people that join wars after we’ve already won”. He even demanded that France and China also send warships – which the French declined to do.

Senior Conservatives called for the option of responding to the President’s plea to be “explored”, saying “our principle is that we should take action where it is in the national interest and where it is protecting our military assets abroad”.

Last week the Government finally confirmed that the warship HMS Dragon had begun its journey to the area after embarrassing delays meant there was not a single British naval asset there to defend the besieged Cyprus base.

Mr Miliband repeatedly refused to state what aid would be provided to unblock the Strait, but said there are “a range of things that we can do, including autonomous minehunting equipment”.

Pressure has been mounting on ministers to deal with increasing energy prices with some campaigners even suggesting it could impact people visiting hospitals.

FairFuelUK founder Howard Cox has demanded Rachel Reeves cut fuel duty to protect families after a survey showed 1 in 10 would cut medical journeys to cope with higher prices.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey warned that the Government should be “very careful about being dragged into a war that we did not start and is damaging our country and our economy”.

He added that the UK should only respond to the crisis in the only maritime passage to the oil-rich Gulf “in our national interest, not because Donald Trump’s asked us to go and help him” before confirming that “at the moment, I can’t see a reason that we should go”.

Mr Davey said he was “worried” about the impact the war was having on people’s bills, but refused to commit to backing action to unblock the Strait and resolve the strangulation of oil supplies it has caused.