UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he hoped the sweeping Democratic victories in the US midterm elections would give the world an opportunity to focus on ending the Iran war and easing cost of living pressures, as other world leaders offered mixed reactions to the results that saw President Donald Trump's Republicans lose control of Congress.
Speaking at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua, Burnham said he hoped the results would allow countries to unite around the cost of living crisis, which he has made the centrepiece of his first three months in office. He said easing pressures on households depended on resolving the conflict in the Middle East, and also said the conflict in Ukraine was among the things to focus on.
"President Trump has accepted the results, and I feel the world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living," Burnham told broadcasters. He added that he would be working for de-escalation in Iran, with a goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump acknowledged that rising fuel prices caused by the Iran war had played a part in his party's defeats. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said: "People agree with what I'm doing on Iran but they really probably weren't willing to do the short term consequences of paying more for gasoline. I understand that."
The midterm elections delivered majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to the Democrats, a significant rebuke to Trump. The results were welcomed by some world leaders.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that Americans said no to war, a message Iran endorses. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised voters for rejecting policies that make people poorer, as well as hate, sexism, climate denial and elite privilege. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he believes Democratic control of Congress will introduce a new era in world relations, with improved collaboration on geopolitics and trade.
Other reactions were more guarded. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China hopes to build a constructive relationship with Washington. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the Democratic approach to relations with Russia is extremely negative. Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken said governing in the US would be quasi impossible with such deep internal divisions. European Parliament Vice President Christel Schaldemose said she was cautiously optimistic on Europe's behalf.
At Prime Minister's Questions in London, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper said American voters rejected Trump's warmongering and urged the government to send a clear message to Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there must be no more strikes. Cabinet Office Minister Louise Haigh replied that the US is one of Britain's most important allies and that the priority is de-escalation.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The US midterm results reshape the political landscape for Trump's final two years, affecting global stability and US foreign policy on Iran, Ukraine and trade.
- For the UK, Burnham's focus on cost of living is tied to resolving the Iran conflict, which has driven up fuel prices; the outcome could influence his domestic agenda.
- The mixed global reaction shows how deeply the Trump administration has strained alliances, and whether the Democratic Congress can restore confidence in US leadership.
Background
The 2026 US midterm elections saw Democrats win majorities in both chambers of Congress, a strong rebuke to President Trump's Republican party. The result was widely seen as a referendum on his presidency, with the Iran war and rising cost of living among key issues. Trump acknowledged that higher gasoline prices hurt his party. The elections took place against a backdrop of stalled indirect talks between the US and Iran, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Key Perspectives
Andy Burnham (UK Prime Minister): said the results give the world an opportunity to unite on cost of living and de-escalate conflicts, and he will push for a resolution in Iran and Ukraine.
Donald Trump (US President): accepted the results and said voters agreed with him on Iran but were unwilling to pay higher gasoline prices.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (Iranian Parliament Speaker): said Americans said no to war and Iran endorses that message.
Pedro Sanchez (Spanish Prime Minister): praised voters for rejecting policies that make people poorer, hate, sexism, climate denial and elite privilege.
Cyril Ramaphosa (South African President): said Democratic control of Congress will introduce a new era in world relations with improved collaboration.
Mao Ning (Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson): said China hopes to build a constructive relationship with the US.
Sergei Ryabkov (Russian Deputy Foreign Minister): said the Democratic approach to relations with Russia is extremely negative.
Theo Francken (Belgian Defence Minister): said governing in the US will be quasi impossible with such internal division.
Christel Schaldemose (European Parliament Vice President): said she is cautiously optimistic on Europe's behalf.
What to Watch
- Whether Burnham can leverage the midterm outcome to push for de-escalation in Iran, with renewed diplomacy between the US and Iran.
- Trump's response: he still holds veto power and significant foreign policy authority; a bruised president could escalate strikes or impose tariffs.
- The impact on the UK's 10-year plan for government, which may be affected by an unpredictable US president in his final two years.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline quotes Burnham as saying there was an “opportunity to unite”.BBC News: “there was an "opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living"”
- SupportedBurnham promised to push for a resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.BBC News: “the prime minister promised to push for a resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine”
- SupportedTrump acknowledged that Iran-war-related rising fuel prices played a part in his party’s defeats.BBC News: “the US president acknowledged that rising fuel prices - caused by the Iran war - had played a part in his party's defeats.”
- SupportedThe midterm results saw Republicans suffer heavy losses and Democrats take control of Congress.BBC News: “Donald Trump's Republicans suffer heavy losses. ... the US Congress, now controlled by the Democrats”
- SupportedBurnham said the results offered “an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living”.BBC News: “Andy Burnham has said the results of the US midterm elections meant there was an "opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living".”
- SupportedBurnham said he could not ease cost-of-living pressures until the US’s conflict in Iran was resolved.BBC News: “He said he couldn't ease cost of living pressures until the US's conflict in Iran had been resolved.”
- SupportedBurnham said voters wanted to “see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter to people”.BBC News: “Burnham said the voters in the US have said they want to "see the world coming together and focusing on the things that matter to people".”
- SupportedTrump told Fox News: “People agree with what I'm doing on Iran but they really probably weren't willing to do the short term consequences of paying more for gasoline - I understand that.”BBC News: “Speaking to Fox News, President Trump said: "People agree with what I'm doing on Iran but they really probably weren't willing to do the short term consequences of paying more for gasoline - I understand that."”
- SupportedDaisy Cooper said voters had rejected Trump’s “warmongering and the economic chaos that it has caused”.BBC News: “The Liberal Democrat's deputy leader Daisy Cooper said American voters had rejected Trump's "warmongering and the economic chaos that it has caused".”
- SupportedHaigh said the US was one of the UK’s most important allies and that the priority was de-escalation.BBC News: “Haigh replied: "The US are one of our most important allies and our priority absolutely is de-escalation."”
- SupportedTrump warned the US and Israel could intensify strikes after the midterms if they could not reach an agreement with Iran.BBC News: “The president has recently warned that the US and Israel could intensify strikes after the midterm elections, if they were unable to reach an agreement with Iran.”
- SupportedIndirect talks had been stalled for months, and some analysts close to the Iranian regime suggested prolonging negotiations in the hope fuel costs would damage Trump electorally.BBC News: “Indirect talks between the two sides have been stalled for months and some analysts close to the Iran regime have suggested prolonging the negotiations, in the hope that the rising cost of fuel would damage Trump electorally.”