SIR KEIR STARMER was told by unions today to pull out all the stops to protect the country’s economy from a “Trump-slump.”

The Prime Minister insisted Britain could weather the economic storm caused by the Iran war after US President Donald Trump claimed Tehran has asked for a ceasefire.

But he acknowledged the Middle East crisis would “affect the future of our country” as households faced higher fuel costs now and the prospect of energy bill hikes later this year.

Sir Keir used a Downing Street press conference to attempt to reassure anxious Britons that the government had a plan to deal with the cost-of-living pressures caused by the war.

He said he was not prepared to let the British people relive the energy shocks of the 1970s.

“I know that this is causing huge concern,” he said.

“People turn on their televisions, they look at their screens, they see explosions, infrastructure blown up, aggressive rhetoric.

“They worry that the UK will be dragged into this. We won’t.”

He said “no matter how fierce this storm, we are well-placed to weather it” and “we have a long-term plan to emerge from it a stronger and more secure nation.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The longer this war goes on, the bigger the threat to our economy and to living standards from Trumpflation.

“That’s why de-escalation must be the priority.

“But the government must stand ready to pull out all the stops to protect the country from a sustained Trump-slump — and ensure those with the deepest pockets shoulder the cost.

“Low-income families and already-struggling sectors will need the greatest protection most quickly.

“And the government is right to seek a closer trading relationship with the EU, especially with the US showing itself to be an unreliable global partner.”

Sir Keir said Britain would push forward with its pursuit of closer ties with the EU in the wake of the oil crisis.

The move comes as the “special relationship” between Britain and the US comes under strain from Trump’s repeated criticism of allies for refusing to join the military action.

Trump said he is considering whether to pull the US out of Nato in response to the perceived lack of support.