\n<\/p>\n
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves<\/strong>, and the prime minister, Keir Starmer<\/strong>, indicated yesterday that the government could be prepared to intervene to protect UK households against major cost-of-living shocks to come at the next energy price cap, as Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged as high as $119.50 a barrel on Monday.<\/p>\n Brent then slid back to about $91 when Donald Trump described the US-Israeli war on Iran as \u201cvery complete, pretty much\u201d in an interview with CBS News yesterday evening.<\/p>\n His contradictory statements on the timeline for the duration of the war have added to market turbulence, with fears of a prolonged conflict causing governments to consider support packages to protect people from higher prices caused by a predicted surge in inflation.<\/p>\n The British Chambers of Commerce forecast that inflation would remain \u201cfirmly above\u201d the Bank of England\u2019s 2% target, noting the \u201chighly uncertain\u201d global situation.<\/p>\n <\/span>Rachel Reeves said Britain is likely to be hit by rising inflation because of the US war with Iran.<\/span> Photograph: Simon Dawson\/No 10 Downing Street<\/p>\n Following a call with her G7 counterparts on Monday, Reeves said she was ready to support \u201ca coordinated release\u201d of international oil reserves to ease the economic shock of the escalating crisis.<\/p>\n She also called for action to \u201cguarantee the security of vessels\u201d passing through the strait of Hormuz, one of the world\u2019s most important shipping routes. The war has severely reduced sea traffic through the strait which carries about one-fifth of global seaborne crude oil.<\/p>\n Starmer said a prolonged conflict would affect the \u201clives and households of everybody\u201d but vowed that ministers would seek to \u201cget ahead\u201d in case of that event.<\/p>\n Reeves is due in the Commons for Treasury questions at <\/strong>11.30am as she faces calls to ditch a planned 5p rise in fuel duty in September and set out an emergency package to shield households from global energy price rises and inflationary pressures.<\/p>\n Share<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Before taking questions from journalists, Nigel Farage pledged to reverse the government\u2019s planned fuel duty hike by scrapping what he described as \u201clunatic\u201d net zero levies.<\/p>\n Speaking at Newhaven services on Tuesday, he said: \u201cThe way we sneakily do tax in this country means there\u2019s about 6p going on a litre of petrol staged over the course of the next few months. And this is just about the last time this should happen.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are we going to pay for not increasing taxes? Well, we\u2019re going to get rid of lunatic green levies. In particular, I\u2019m thinking about heat pump subsidies.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick at a party press conference at New Haven Services in Derbyshire. <\/span> Photograph: Jacob King\/PAShare<\/p>\n The Ministry of Defence said earlier that landing ship RFA Lyme Bay is being prepared for potential deployment to the eastern Mediterranean. The vessel has aviation and medical facilities.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon is due to be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect Cyprus and the RAF bases there from further drone or missile attacks.<\/p>\n As my colleague Dan Sabbagh notes in this story, France has already deployed its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier into the eastern Mediterranean and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, met Cyprus\u2019s president, Nikos Christodoulides, and Greece\u2019s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Monday.<\/p>\n Britain has faced criticism from Cyprus about not acting fast enough to protect the country, home to two UK bases.<\/p>\n <\/span>Equipment is loaded on to HMS Dragon, a Royal Navy destroyer on Monday, in preparation for it sailing to the eastern Mediterranean.<\/span> Photograph: Neil Hall\/EPAShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.10 EDT<\/p>\n When pressed to clarify Reform\u2019s position, Farage said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe cannot get involved directly in another foreign war. We don\u2019t have a navy. We can\u2019t even defend our own military base in Cyprus.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n We can bring you some lines from the Reform press conference (see post at 10.10). Sky News\u2019 political editor Beth Rigby asked Nigel Farage about Reform\u2019s inconsistent position over the UK\u2019s policy in regard to the US-Israeli war with Iran. She asks how voters can trust the party\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven that we can\u2019t even send a Royal Naval vessel to defend British sovereign territory and an RAF base, we certainly don\u2019t have the capability to offer anything of any value to the Americans or the Israelis<\/strong>,\u201d Farage said, describing the Royal Navy as a \u201ccatastrophe<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>I think so far the government have had one charter plane, and even that broke down and was 24 hours late,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Farage said he strongly disagreed with Keir Starmer\u2019s initial refusal to permit the US to use UK bases for its joint offensive with Israel against Iran. He said French President Emmanuel Macron\u2019s \u201cvery decisive actions\u201d and intention to help clear the strait of Hormuz shows the \u201chumiliating state that we\u2019ve sunk to today<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n Farage continued: \u201cSo there are differing opinions as to whether we should physically join the attacks. I as leader, I\u2019m saying to you, if we can\u2019t even defend Cyprus, let\u2019s not get ourselves involved in another foreign war<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Reform seems to have been shifting its position on Iran. Farage previously took a harder line than he did this morning, saying the he supported regime change in Iran and said that the RAF and Royal Navy should be deployed to support US strikes<\/strong> on the country. Deputy leader Richard Tice previously said that if Reform were in power \u201cwe would be helping the Americans and the Israelis in any way they saw appropriate\u201d. Jenrick, on the other hand, has struck a more cautious tone.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.15 EDT<\/p>\n Ben Quinn<\/span><\/p>\n Plans to curtail the number of jury trials in England and Wales have been described as \u201cunpopular, untested and poorly evidenced\u201d by thousands of lawyers who have written to the prime minister.<\/p>\n The letter to Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, from 3,200 lawyers, including 300 senior barristers, comes as his government faces the prospect of one of its most serious backbench revolts since coming to power.<\/p>\n Efforts by David Lammy, the justice secretary, to change the mind of one of the leading Labour figures opposed to the plans, the backbencher Karl Turner, failed after the men met on Monday night.<\/p>\n <\/span>David Lammy warned opponents of the bill that criminals would walk free if it was blocked.<\/span> Photograph: James Manning\/PA<\/p>\n Turner, who had previously coordinated a letter from 38 Labour MPs urging the prime minister to reverse the plans, said he had \u201cabsolutely not\u201d been convinced.<\/p>\n The Conservatives are expected to force a vote to try to block the second reading in parliament on Tuesday. However, the true scale of the Labour rebellion may not yet be evident. You can read the full story here:<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n The Labour Rural Research Group<\/strong> (made up of over 40 MPs representing \u201crural\u201d and \u201csemi-rural\u201d constituencies) have a report out today <\/strong>calling on the government to better fund and deliver services for people in rural Britain often neglected in policy formulation in London. It says poverty in the countryside tends to be \u201cundercounted, underfunded and structurally overlooked<\/strong>\u201d and the research group seeks to address these concerns by giving voice to issues affecting rural areas. Here are some of the recommendations in the report:<\/p>\n Rural public transport requires long-term, stable funding, with capped fares covering complete journeys.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Fuel poverty interventions must be targeted at off-grid homes, including extended energy support and social tariffs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Government should work with the big six supermarkets to introduce a \u201cRural Basket Delivery Guarantee\u201d, ensuring rural food and retail deserts are covered by delivery services.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The government\u2019s 2026 High Street Strategy must include an explicit rural focus.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n In-work support must reflect fluctuating and seasonal incomes common in rural economies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.39 EDT<\/p>\n Hilary Osborne<\/span><\/p>\n Rural households that rely on heating oil to warm their homes and provide hot water are facing a \u201csudden and frightening<\/strong>\u201d surge in their bills, with prices almost trebling since the start of the Iran war.<\/p>\n The cost of heating oil is not covered by Ofgem\u2019s energy price cap and varies between suppliers. In examples seen by the Guardian, customers who were typically paying 62p a litre before the war are now being quoted about \u00a31.73.<\/p>\n The prospect of government help was raised when the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, told parliament she recognised households that used heating oil faced \u201cunique challenges\u201d. She said officials would meet rural and Northern Ireland\u2019s MPs on Wednesday to explore \u201cfurther action\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/span>Heating oil is typically a form of kerosene so prices are linked to the cost of jet fuel. Households in the UK say they have orders of deliveries cancelled.<\/span> Photograph: Wayne HUTCHINSON\/Alamy<\/p>\n Across the UK, an estimated 1.7m households rely on heating oil, and in Northern Ireland it is the primary heating source for two-thirds of households.<\/p>\n It is typically a form of kerosene so prices are linked to the cost of jet fuel.<\/p>\n As wholesale prices have risen, some customers have had orders cancelled, leaving them to try to rebuy at a higher price. Others have struggled to find suppliers willing to deliver to them. You can read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n This policy paper on the changing fuel duty rates says the following:<\/p>\n double quotation markAlongside other measures announced at Budget 2025 to address the cost of living, this measure continues to support motorists by freezing the current fuel duty rates until the end of August 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n Rates will gradually return to March 2022 levels by March 2027, avoiding a 5 ppl increase in March 2026 when the cut was due to expire.<\/em><\/p>\n The planned increase in line with inflation for 2026 to 2027 is also being cancelled. This measure will save the average car driver \u00a349 in 2026 to 2027 compared to previous plans<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage<\/strong>, and his Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick<\/strong> are expected to hold a press conference at a petrol station in Derbyshire shortly and will no doubt be accusing ministers of not doing enough to help motorists.<\/p>\n Writing in The Sun, Farage and Jenrick said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf Reform were in government, it would never have happened. We will spend the next few months trying to shame Rachel Reeves into cancelling it [the fuel duty rise]<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n But if she doesn\u2019t \u2013 whether because she\u2019s running scared of the Greens or in hock to her far-left backbenchers \u2013 then Reform will reverse it in our first budget. Because what she\u2019s doing just isn\u2019t fair.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick will be holding a press conference shortly and will spell out what Reform would do on fuel duty if in government. <\/span> Photograph: Guy Bell\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.14 EDT<\/p>\n You can follow the latest market developments in our business live blog, which is leading on how oil prices are falling and stocks rebounding after Donald Trump said the war would end soon:<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n The RAC, which represents UK motorists, has said average petrol and diesel prices will likely keep on rising \u2013 one of the many examples of how the turmoil in the global energy markets is hitting households already.<\/p>\n The i is reporting that Rachel Reeves could U-turn on the plan to hike fuel duty in September, pointing to a non-committal quote from the prime minister\u2019s spokesperson yesterday. The spokesperson said: \u201cWe\u2019re obviously closely monitoring prices in light of the situation in the Middle East. I know there\u2019s been reporting around fuel duty. The chancellor keeps all taxes under review<\/strong> and takes decisions at the budget.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.00 EDT<\/p>\n As we mentioned in the opening post, Rachel Reeves is under pressure to cancel the planned increase in fuel duty due in September which will cause drivers to pay more for petrol and diesel as the government rolls back a temporary cut that was introduced in 2022 in response to Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n At her budget last year, Reeves said the 5p cut would be unwound between September 2026 and March 2027, but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have called for her to change course in light of the Israeli-US war with Iran. The Tories have promised to bring a vote on reversing the planned increase.<\/p>\n The Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markRachel Reeves is planning to hike Fuel Duty for the first time in 15 years at the worst possible moment. Last week at the Spring Statement she knew full well that global instability was pushing oil prices up again.<\/em><\/p>\n Instead of helping families and businesses, she chose to pat herself on the back. Now motorists across the country face the double hit of rising petrol prices and higher fuel tax. This is Labour\u2019s instinct: higher taxes and the wrong priorities. Labour must axe the Fuel Tax rise!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/span>Kemi Badenoch has urged the government to commit to cutting fuel duty. <\/span> Photograph: Stefan Rousseau\/PA<\/p>\n The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey<\/strong>, went further, saying the prime minister should convene the government\u2019s emergency Cobra committee<\/strong> \u201cto personally get a grip on the threat of brutal price shocks facing families, pensioners and businesses\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.21 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves<\/strong>, and the prime minister, Keir Starmer<\/strong>, indicated yesterday that the government could be prepared to intervene to protect UK households against major cost-of-living shocks to come at the next energy price cap, as Brent crude, the international benchmark, surged as high as $119.50 a barrel on Monday.<\/p>\n Brent then slid back to about $91 when Donald Trump described the US-Israeli war on Iran as \u201cvery complete, pretty much\u201d in an interview with CBS News yesterday evening.<\/p>\n His contradictory statements on the timeline for the duration of the war have added to market turbulence, with fears of a prolonged conflict causing governments to consider support packages to protect people from higher prices caused by a predicted surge in inflation.<\/p>\n The British Chambers of Commerce forecast that inflation would remain \u201cfirmly above\u201d the Bank of England\u2019s 2% target, noting the \u201chighly uncertain\u201d global situation.<\/p>\n <\/span>Rachel Reeves said Britain is likely to be hit by rising inflation because of the US war with Iran.<\/span> Photograph: Simon Dawson\/No 10 Downing Street<\/p>\n Following a call with her G7 counterparts on Monday, Reeves said she was ready to support \u201ca coordinated release\u201d of international oil reserves to ease the economic shock of the escalating crisis.<\/p>\n She also called for action to \u201cguarantee the security of vessels\u201d passing through the strait of Hormuz, one of the world\u2019s most important shipping routes. The war has severely reduced sea traffic through the strait which carries about one-fifth of global seaborne crude oil.<\/p>\n Starmer said a prolonged conflict would affect the \u201clives and households of everybody\u201d but vowed that ministers would seek to \u201cget ahead\u201d in case of that event.<\/p>\n Reeves is due in the Commons for Treasury questions at <\/strong>11.30am as she faces calls to ditch a planned 5p rise in fuel duty in September and set out an emergency package to shield households from global energy price rises and inflationary pressures.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ministers under pressure to bring in cost-of-living support package amid inflation fears Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, and the prime minister, Keir Starmer, indicated yesterday that the government could be prepared to intervene to protect UK households against major cost-of-living shocks to come at the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46342,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[23688,584,20153,132,414,124,1791,2656],"class_list":{"0":"post-46341","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-crime-justice","8":"tag-costofliving","9":"tag-face","10":"tag-grilling","11":"tag-live","12":"tag-mps","13":"tag-politics","14":"tag-pressures","15":"tag-reeves"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Farage: UK can’t get directly involved in ‘another foreign war’; doesn’t ‘have a navy’<\/h2>\n
Farage says UK doesn’t have ‘capability to offer anything of value’ to the US or Israel<\/h2>\n
Thousands of lawyers urge Keir Starmer to rethink plans to cut jury trials<\/h2>\n
\n
UK households that use heating oil face \u2018frightening\u2019 surge in bills over Iran war<\/h2>\n
Rachel Reeves faces growing calls to cancel planned increase in fuel duty<\/h2>\n
Ministers under pressure to bring in cost-of-living support package amid inflation fears<\/h2>\n