Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to help households with the cost of living amid the energy price spike caused by the war in the Middle East.
The prime minister will on Monday say helping households with living costs is “my first priority” as he announces a subsidy for people who use heating oil to heat their homes after war-driven price spikes.
Starmer’s heating oil announcement on Monday comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Treasury officials have “found the money” to help the 1.5 million households relying on the fuel.
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Heating oil is not protected by the energy price cap, and its price per litre has doubled due to disruption to oil supplies from the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began.
Inside Downing Street, Starmer 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 raise concerns over claims some heating-oil suppliers cancelled orders before sharply increasing prices.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband Credit: Maja Smiejkowska/PA
Last week, Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband met oil firm bosses and forecourt operators to warn them against profiteering.
In his press conference, Starmer will say: “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.”
De-escalation of the war is the quickest way to reduce cost-of-living pressures for the British public, the prime minister will insist.
Elsewhere, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has mobilised more than £5 million in aid for humanitarian organisations in Lebanon amid fighting 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”.
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