Prime Minister Announces Emergency Heating Oil Support Amid Middle East Turmoil
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled an emergency £53 million package to assist heating oil customers who are facing severe price spikes due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. During a Downing Street press conference, Starmer emphasised that the UK economy can withstand the fallout from the Middle East conflict, but immediate action is required to protect vulnerable households.
Immediate Aid for Heating Oil Customers
The key announcement from the Prime Minister was the allocation of £53 million in immediate support for low-income families in rural communities who rely on heating oil. Starmer expressed concerns over reports that some suppliers cancelled orders and then raised prices, stating, "I simply will not allow companies to make huge profits from the hardship of working people. That kind of conduct is completely unacceptable, so if the companies have broken the law, there will be legal action." The Treasury confirmed this funding aims to mitigate the sharp end of price increases driven by the conflict.
Energy Bills and Price Cap Measures
Starmer highlighted that energy bills for most customers remain protected by the price cap until early summer, with the average household set to save £117 when the cap decreases next month. He warned energy firms, "I can announce today that we're giving a legal direction to the energy companies to ensure that every penny of the savings that we delivered through last year's budget is passed directly on to customers to keep bills as low as possible." He added that it would be "simply not sensible" to rule out additional measures beyond June, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the crisis.
Fuel Duty Under Review
The Prime Minister stated that any decision to increase fuel duty is being kept "under review," with a current 5p cut in place until the end of August, after which it will be phased out. When pressed on future plans amid rising pump prices, Starmer said, "I know people are urging me, 'what are you going to do after September?' That is six months away. There's obviously a lot of change that can happen in that period and we need to keep the situation under review." He stressed that his priority is to protect people from cost-of-living pressures, referencing existing measures like the energy bill cap.
British Nationals and Middle East Updates
Starmer reported that over 92,000 British nationals have returned to the UK from the Middle East since the conflict began three weeks ago, utilising both commercial and government-chartered flights. He praised the Armed Forces for their round-the-clock efforts, with thousands of service personnel stationed in Cyprus working "night and day" to assist in the evacuation and support operations.
Strait of Hormuz Plan and Trump Call
The Prime Minister revealed that the UK is collaborating with European partners and other allies to develop a "viable, collective plan" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route affected by the conflict. This follows a call with US President Donald Trump, who warned that NATO's future could be at risk unless allies provide ships. Starmer clarified, "It is a discussion, we are not at a point of decisions yet, I want to really stress that." He emphasised the need for broad international agreement to restore freedom of navigation and ease economic impacts.
UK Avoids Wider War Involvement
Starmer insisted that the UK will not be drawn into the wider US-Israel war with Iran, defending his initial decision not to grant the US permission to use British bases. He stated, "I want to see an end to this war as quickly as possible because the longer it goes on the more dangerous the situation becomes and the worse it is for the cost of living back here at home." In a pointed remark, he criticised political opponents, saying, "Moments like this also tell you about leadership. There are others who would have rushed the UK headlong into this war without a plan to get us out. That is not leading, it’s following."
Preventing a Windfall for Putin
The Prime Minister warned that the Middle East conflict must not become a "windfall" for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, stressing the importance of continued support for Ukraine. He announced plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky soon, adding, "It's vital that we continue to focus on supporting Ukraine. We cannot allow the war in the Gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin." This comes after the US eased sanctions on Russian oil as a short-term measure amid rising costs from the Middle East war.
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress commented that the Prime Minister acted swiftly to support those affected by energy price hikes but cautioned that more aid may be needed to counter "Trumpflation" and ongoing chaos. Starmer concluded that de-escalating the Middle East conflict is the quickest way to reduce living costs, pledging government readiness to shield households and firms from global shocks.
