Petrol prices latest: Motorists hit by 23-year record over cost of diesel as Starmer prepares for emergency talks

Sir Keir Starmer claims the UK would be “in an unplanned war” if Conservative or Reform UK leaders were in power

Referring to the conflict in the Middle East, he says: “This is not our war and we will not be dragged into it.

“Yes, of course we will defend British lives and interests in the region, we will stand by our allies in the Gulf region, but we will not be dragged into this.”

Sir Keir also says: “What difference would it make if you took Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage? What did they want to do?”

“They wanted to go straight into battle with both feet, without thinking about the consequences.

“They’re in opposition now, so maybe that doesn’t matter but it’s a terrible decision because taking your country to war is the most important decision a prime minister can make and if they were in government we’d be in an unplanned war.”

Sir Keir Starmer has kicked off his local election campaign by declaring he will once again ensure Britain is not “dragged” into Donald Trump’s war against Iran.

Speaking at a launch event in Wolverhapmton, he described the backdrop to the May 7 elections as “uncertain”.

“People are looking at their screens and they’re worried when they look at the explosions and the infrastructure that’s blown up and the rhetoric that comes with that. They’re worried that this is going to escalate.”

He added: “It’s really important for me to reiterate where I stand and where this government stands, because this is not our fight and we will not be dragged into it. These are my values, these are my principles and we have applied that to our decisions, regardless of the pressure and whoever it comes from.”

Sir Keir Starmer is about to launch Labour’s make-or-break local election campaign as he tries to rally voters and his own party behind him.

Labor is bracing for heavy losses at the polls this spring as it continues to lose voters to both the Reform on the right and the Greens on the left in a coup that could mean the end of Sir Keir’s leadership.

The Prime Minister is speaking in a show of support to an audience full of cabinet colleagues at his launch event in Wolverhampton this morning.

Speaking before the Prime Minister, Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell praised Sir Keir and said she was “extremely proud” of Sir Keir and his decision not to “blindly follow” Donald Trump’s war on Iran.

New figures show the price gap between diesel and gasoline has reached its highest level since at least 2003 as Iran’s oil crisis deepens.

Latest data from motoring services company RAC shows the average price of diesel in the UK rose to 179.9p on Sunday; this is 28.5p more than petrol (151.4p).

Oil refineries in the UK are geared towards producing petrol rather than diesel, so the country’s diesel supply is more dependent on imports.

Oil prices, which have a significant impact on the cost of wholesale fuel, rose in response to Iran’s pressure on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, causing pump prices to increase.

Car research charity the RAC Foundation warned this was the biggest price disparity between diesel and petrol since at least 2003, and possibly ever.

Latest DVLA figures show 16.2 million diesel vehicles were licensed in the UK as of the end of September last year.

Bosses of energy, shipping and banking firms will meet Sir Keir Starmer this afternoon.

Oil prices rose after Donald Trump said he was considering a military operation to seize Kharg Island, a key part of Iran’s export infrastructure.

Representatives from energy firms Shell and BP, shipping giant Maersk, marine insurance specialist Lloyd’s of London and banks HSBC and Goldman Sachs will attend the discussions in Downing Street.

At the meeting, up-to-date information on the situation in the region will also be heard from the British naval operations commander, Major General Richard Cantrill.

Downing Street said the aim of the meeting was to hear directly from business and discuss how government and the private sector can work together to respond to conflict.

Rachel Reeves has been accused by Kemi Badenoch of talking “management nonsense” and being “oblivious” to the cost of living crisis facing millions of Britons.

The Conservative leader spoke in response to an article published in the Chancellor’s magazine. Independent He said “employee costs have come down” as a result of his policies.

Ms Badenoch said Ms Reeves’ claim was “politically tone deaf” to the daily struggle to make ends meet ordinary families face.

“It was classic Rachel Reeves, very pleased with herself,” Ms. Badenoch wrote in her response. Independent.

But the Conservative Party leader dismissed Ms Reeves’s remarks as “administrative, bureaucratic nonsense”.

British consumers have been warned to expect prices to rise in the coming weeks and months as small businesses face “extremely worrying” energy costs.

The war in the Middle East has caused oil and gas prices to rise amid Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Small business leaders have warned they face a “pile of costs” from rising energy prices as well as changes to the government’s tax and employment policies.

Craig Beaumont, chief executive of the small business federation, said: Sky News the rise in fuel costs is a “major concern.”

“It’s pretty hard to see a scenario where prices don’t go up. So diesel, especially for small businesses, they’re using vans for transportation, we estimate that that’s going to increase their costs by about 15 per cent right now, so it’s got to come from somewhere.”

A week has passed since US President Donald Trump announced that talks were being held with Iranian leaders to end the war in the Gulf.

On Sunday, Mr Trump insisted talks were progressing ‘very well’ after sending a 15-point list of action demands through mediators.

But hopes of ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to relieve the pressure of oil shortages do not seem to have convinced the markets; Oil prices rose again on Monday.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: “The White House’s rhetoric is now falling on deaf ears and only concrete signs of action are likely to stem the decline in most asset classes.

“As the war drags on, the cost and time it takes to reverse the damage will increase, meaning oil prices are likely to remain high for longer and inflationary pressure may increase globally.”

Sir Keir Starmer faces growing concerns about fuel shortages due to war in the Middle East as he prepares to meet Britain’s biggest energy suppliers on Monday.

But ministers have so far tried to ease the panic by insisting the UK has adequate supplies of diesel and jet fuel. On Monday morning, Environment Minister Emma Reynolds said there was no need for people to ration their food.

But I’m talking to the BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Ellen Fraser, an energy expert at consultancy Baring, said: “Yes, there is a real risk of de facto shortages in the UK. We are also relatively reliant on strait flows, particularly for jet fuel and diesel. We don’t have huge stocks in the UK, so those could actually run out quite quickly. So that’s where the UK is most vulnerable.”