UK politics live: Starmer to address nation on Middle East crisis as energy bills spiral
Prime Minister to promise help with living costs after rise in heating oil prices
Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to help households with living costs amid a surge in energy prices caused by war in the Middle East, after it emerged Donald Trump had resisted calls to send warships to the region.
Helping households with living costs is “my first priority”, the Prime Minister will say on Monday, as he announces a subsidy for those using heating oil to heat their homes after facing war-induced price rises.
The Prime Minister’s heating oil announcement on Monday came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Treasury officials had “found the money” to help the 1.5 million households dependent on the fuel.
Heating oil is not protected by the energy price ceiling and its price per liter has doubled as a result of pressure on oil from the Middle East since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
In Downing Street, Sir Keir will say: “It is moments like this that tell you what a Government is all about.
“My answer is clear. No matter what challenges lie ahead, this Government will always support working people.
“That’s my first instinct, my first priority, is to help you with the cost of getting through this crisis.”
The Prime Minister will also express concerns about allegations that heating oil suppliers are canceling orders and increasing prices.
Holly Evans16 March 2026 07:18
Britain may send mine-hunting drones to Strait of Hormuz and is ‘intensively’ looking for options to unblock key route
The government is “intensively” investigating what it can do to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Britain is considering sending mine-hunting drones to remove Iran’s pressure on a key oil shipping route.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said there were “a range of things” the UK and its allies could do to secure the route, which has been blocked by Iran, leading to a rise in energy prices.
His intervention came after Donald Trump called on allied warships to protect tankers in the area and help secure the waterway. Addressing countries affected by price increases on the Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said: “I hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others affected by this artificial restriction will send ships to the region so that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer threatened by a completely decapitated nation.
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Holly Evans16 March 2026 07:14
