{"text":[[{"start":9.46,"text":"Andy Burnham has approved a request from Saudi Arabia for the UK to provide the kingdom with military support in its fight with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, in an escalation of British involvement in the conflict."}],[{"start":23.22,"text":"The UK prime minister, speaking en route to the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, linked the limited British military support to the need to control the “cost of living” and keep oil supplies flowing."}],[{"start":35.28,"text":"A single Royal Air Force Voyager refuelling aircraft, operating from a UK base in Cyprus, will be deployed to help Saudi Arabia in its fight with the Houthis. The Voyager will be used for “defensive air-to-air refuelling” for a limited period, thought to be a matter of weeks."}],[{"start":51.28,"text":"In spite of the small-scale British involvement, the move is a symbol of Burnham’s willingness to deploy UK forces to the Middle East to try to maintain energy supplies to the UK and help keep living costs down."}],[{"start":62.44,"text":"During his visit to New York, Burnham will discuss with US President Donald Trump the need to bring the American war with Iran to a speedy end."}],[{"start":70.72,"text":"The prime minister has admitted that next month’s Budget will be “challenging” because of the fallout from the conflict, which has led to surging oil prices, higher inflation and rising government borrowing costs."}],[{"start":81.64,"text":"Burnham said on Monday that following a request from Saudi Arabia and on the advice of defence secretary Wes Streeting and foreign secretary Ed Miliband, he had agreed to the “request for defensive air-to-air refuelling”."}],[{"start":93.12,"text":"“I go back to the point I made about cost of living pressures and acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack, and is looking at potential further disruption,” he added."}],[{"start":106.2,"text":"“Of course the message is that we want to see an end to the conflict as quickly as possible and we stand ready to play our part.”"}],[{"start":113.64,"text":"Britain has also deployed military assets in the Gulf to try to keep the Strait of Hormuz open."}],[{"start":119.16,"text":"Saudi Arabia is embroiled in a fresh crisis after the Houthi rebels in Yemen reignited a more than decade-long conflict with the kingdom in recent weeks."}],[{"start":127.22,"text":"The Houthis last week launched a missile attack on Riyadh, the first time they have targeted the Saudi capital since the recent escalation of hostilities."}],[{"start":137.48,"text":"A Saudi military spokesperson said the kingdom’s air defences intercepted a ballistic missile in the early hours of Saturday."}],[{"start":151.24,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1790056152_7906.mp3"}