Westminster Hour Westminster Hour 22 March 2026
Mar 22, 2026
Lucy Fisher, Financial Times Whitehall editor covering government, foreign policy and economics. John Glenn, Conservative MP and ex-chief secretary to the Treasury, on defence and fiscal trade-offs. Polly Billington, Labour MP and former political director, on party politics and migration. They debate Britain's response to the Iran war, UK–US relations, defence funding, energy security, cost-of-living pressures and migration rules.
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Starmer Broadens Permission For US Strikes
- Keir Starmer broadened UK permission for US strikes to include sites linked to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Lucy Fisher highlighted this as the most significant shift in policy, given a fifth of global energy passes through the strait.
US Lacks Clear Strategy On Iran Conflict
- Sam Friedman warned the US lacks a clear strategy, producing chaotic messages from leadership and mixed signals on escalation.
- He argued that inconsistent US objectives make it hard for allies like the UK to engage coherently.
Fix Procurement Before Raising Defence Bills
- Increase defence spending but fix procurement before pouring in cash to avoid waste.
- Sam Friedman recommended prioritising agile capabilities like drone defence and ensuring money is well spent.