The Prime Minister will on Monday say that helping households with living costs is “my first priority” as he announces a subsidy for those who use heating oil to warm their homes, after they faced price spikes caused by the war.
Sir Keir Starmer will vow to support households with the cost of living amid the energy price surge triggered by the Middle East conflict, after he seemed to rebuff Donald Trump’s demands to dispatch warships to the region.
The Prime Minister will on Monday declare that assisting households with living expenses is “my first priority” as he unveils a subsidy for those who rely on heating oil to warm their homes, following price hikes sparked by the war.
Sir Keir on Sunday did not respond to calls from Mr Trump to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil trade route in the Middle East being blockaded by Iran. Instead, Britain is presently considering the possibility of sending mine-hunting drones to the region amid concerns of an Iranian accumulation of explosives in the narrow sea passage.
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The Prime Minister’s heating oil announcement on Monday follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying Treasury officials have “found the money” to assist the 1.5 million households dependent on the fuel.
Heating oil is not covered by the energy price cap and its price per litre has doubled as a consequence of the stranglehold on oil departing the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran commenced.
Inside Downing Street, Sir Keir will say: “It’s moments like this that tell you what a Government is about. My answer is clear. Whatever challenges lie ahead, this Government will always support working people. That is my first instinct – my first priority – to help you with the cost of living through this crisis.”
The Prime Minister will also voice worries over allegations that heating oil suppliers have cancelled orders only to then hike prices. Just last week, Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband sat down with oil company chiefs and forecourt operators to caution them against profiteering.
In his press briefing, Sir Keir will declare: “I will not tolerate companies trying to exploit this crisis to make money from working people… if the companies have broken the law, there will be legal action.”
The quickest route to easing cost-of-living pressures for the British public is de-escalation of the war, the Prime Minister will assert.
On Sunday, Sir Keir spoke with Mr Trump for the first time since the US president appealed for assistance from other countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The duo “discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the disruption to global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide”, a Downing Street spokeswoman revealed.
However, the Prime Minister did not respond to the President’s plea for the UK and other nations affected by the blockade to dispatch warships to the region to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz. Britain is “intensively” exploring what it can do to assist in reopening the route, Mr Miliband confirmed on Sunday.
Defence insiders revealed the military could deploy mine-hunting drones to the area, as ministers attempt to deflect criticism from Mr Trump for disregarding his demand for naval vessels.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has allocated over £5 million in assistance for humanitarian organisations in Lebanon amidst conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. She said she was “gravely concerned about the developing conflict in Lebanon and the scale of the humanitarian impact”.
