A coalition of ten trade unions, including Unison, has formally requested that Prime Minister Andy Burnham intervene in U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The unions argue that the ongoing conflict is a primary driver of the UK's cost-of-living crisis, specifically through its impact on global energy and fuel prices.

To exert leverage on the incoming Trump administration, the unions are calling for the UK government to revoke permission for the United States to utilize RAF bases for launching airstrikes against Iran. This demand coincides with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband’s diplomatic visit to Washington, where he is conducting initial meetings with U.S. officials. While the unions frame this as a necessary step to stabilize the domestic economy, the government has not yet issued a formal response to the request. The proposal highlights a growing tension between domestic economic pressures and the UK's long-standing military cooperation with the United States.