The immediate circumstances reveal that Miliband presented a pacifist case against strikes during a National Security Council meeting. Notably, both the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary backed his position, which included preventing the US from utilizing British RAF bases. Yet, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed course, allowing such use for defensive purposes.

This isn’t Miliband’s first rodeo with military intervention debates. He previously led the campaign against military action in Syria back in 2013. The echoes of that historical moment resonate today as tensions rise again—this time amid an escalating Iran conflict that complicates the UK’s energy crisis.

Key statistics:

• BP reported first-quarter profits of £2.4 billion during the ongoing Iran conflict.
• The company contributed £4.4 billion to the Treasury in 2024, including £1.2 billion in direct tax on its profits.
• Miliband has threatened to impose a windfall tax on BP’s global profits if their actions persist.

Miliband’s stance reflects broader concerns about national security and economic stability. The UK is grappling with its most significant energy crisis ever, and BP’s market value stands at £85 billion. If BP were to leave the UK market, it would send a distressing signal—essentially declaring that the UK is closed for business.