PRIME Minister Sir Keir Starmer lashed out at the Tories and Reform today for flip-flopping over their support for British military engagement in the Iran war.

The PM used Commons questions to taunt the two right-wing leaders who both initially demanded full British involvement in hostilities only to backtrack as the unpopularity of the war became clear.

However, Sir Keir was himself a study in contradiction as he called for “de-escalation” of the conflict only then to boast of Britain’s deepening military participation.

The parliamentary ping-pong came as concerns over the impact of the war on the economy deepened, particularly in respect of soaring energy prices.

Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have left open the possibility of a U-turn on plans to end the freeze on fuel duty in September, which will add to household bills.

The Prime Minister said the freeze would be kept “under review” while Ms Reeves earlier told a Commons committee: “We always keep all taxes under review, but it is much too early — when those changes are not due to come into effect until September — to guess where petrol prices will be then.”

She added, however, true to herself, that she was “very loath to spend government money on something that the market should be doing, and that’s why greater competition and greater transparency about pricing is so important.”

The government may also release emergency oil reserves to help stabilise the market, with vessels now being struck in the vital Straits of Hormuz because of the US-Israeli aggression.

In the Commons, Sir Keir continued to walk his policy tightrope, saying: “I took the decision that we should not join the initial US Israeli offensive against Iran.

“The leader of the opposition attacked me for that decision relentlessly. She said that the UK should have joined the US and Israel in the initial offensive strikes.

“And yesterday, in the wake of the economic consequences, the leader of the opposition totally abandoned her position.”

He also attacked Reform leader Nigel Farage for a “screeching U-turn” on the issue, having urged full British involvement in the illegal attack on Iran only to say this week that Britain “should not be involved in another foreign war.”

Their repositioning follows public opinion, which is overwhelming against British involvement.

“The best thing that we can do, is to work with others to de-escalate the situation,” the premier said.

Yet Sir Keir told MPs that the RAF has put in 230 hours of flights in the Gulf “protecting British lives and our allies” and the destroyer HMS Dragon has made its long-awaited departure from Portsmouth to join the action.