Trade union leaders urge Burnham to end support for Iran war

We reprint below a letter from ten trade union leaders who represent more than 2.3 million workers in Britain, urging the Prime Minister to address the cost of living crisis by putting pressure on President Trump to end rather than escalating the war on Iran. When he took office in July, Burnham continued the policy of his predecessor, permitting the US war planes to use RAF Fairford and other UK bases in the US-Israel’s illegal war. The ten call on Andy Burnham to revoke this decision.

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
10 Downing Street
London SW1 2AA

Dear Prime Minister,

Opposing the US and Israel’s war on Iran is a cost of living priority

As trade union leaders, we have seen how the US and Israel’s devastating, illegal war on Iran is deepening the cost of living crisis faced by our members and the British public. Disruption to the world’s food and energy supplies is hurting communities here in Britain and having a catastrophic impact in the global south.

Since the war started, the average British household has seen its annual energy bill rise by £221, while monthly food bills are forecast to rise by £32.80.[i] Without an end to the war, there will be no end to this cost of living crisis.

We are encouraged by the new government’s focus on the cost of living and the measures it is taking to make life more affordable. However, we are deeply concerned that the same government has authorised US air strikes to be conducted from bases on British territories as part of the war against Iran.

Ending rather than escalating this war – which the US and Israel chose to start in violation of the UN charter – is essential for the government’s affordability agenda to be a success.

As modelling by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows, the war on Iran has undone the marginal improvements to living standards made since 2024.[ii] While broad measures are needed to address the cost of living crisis, de-escalation and an urgent end to the war are essential to preventing bills from surging and averting a systemic shock to the world economy.

The UK has a central role to play in de-escalation: the US has relied on its bases on UK territories to conduct the war, as they are capable of launching strategic bombers and sit within range of Iran.[iii]

Revoking permission for the US to use these bases would have a significant impact on the US ability to further escalate a war that has been a catastrophe for people in the Middle East and an economic disaster for the world.

We urge the Prime Minister to vocally and actively oppose the war and to revoke the UK’s approval of US air strikes from British territories. Most of the British public oppose these air strikes.[iv]

Opposing this war is a necessity if the cost of living agenda is to succeed.

Yours sincerely,

Andrea Egan, General Secretary, UNISON
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary, National Education Union
Dave Ward, General Secretary, Communication Workers Union
Eddie Dempsey, General Secretary, National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Fran Heathcote, General Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union
Jo Grady, General Secretary, University and College Union
Paul W. Fleming, General Secretary, Equity
Maryam Eslamdoust, General Secretary, Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
Sarah Woolley, General Secretary, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union
Steve Wright, General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union

This letter was published by Stop the War, 7 August 2026.

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[i] See Kevin Peachey, Energy Bills to Rise for Millions as Impact of Iran War Hits, BBC, 27 May 2026, and Christian Jaccarini, Food Inflation From Iran War Could Hit Poorer Households 50% Harder Than Richest, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, 22 April 2026.
[ii] Chris Belfield, Sam Tims, et al, Rebuilding Living Standards and Economic Security, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2026
[iii] Rory Fleming-Stuart, The British Bases Behind the Bombs: How Much Has the UK Enabled US Air Strikes on Iran, Action on Armed Violence, 9 Jun 2026.
[iv] YouGov survey of 4598 GB adults, conducted and published  22 July 2026.