London, April 23 (QNA) - UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said that the war in the Middle East had led to rising prices in Britain, in her first comment on the increase in the UK inflation rate announced today by the Office for National Statistics.

In a press statement, she said that the conflict was not Britain’s war, but it was increasing bills for households and businesses, adding that her top priority was to keep costs low. She added that the government’s economic plan was the right one and had put the country in a stronger position to support families in facing this new crisis.

She stressed that the government would work to protect citizens from unfair price increases if they occur, reduce food prices at the point of sale, and strengthen long-term energy security.

The Office for National Statistics had earlier announced that inflation in the United Kingdom rose to 3.3% in the year ending last March, after the war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran led to the largest increase in petrol and diesel prices in more than three years.

Before the outbreak of the war, interest rates set by the Bank of England had been expected to fall this year. However, the threat of rising prices has shifted expectations toward the central bank keeping rates unchanged or even raising them. (QNA)