Sir Keir Starmer delivered a national address today as the UK faces soaring energy prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
This comes just hours after US President Donald Trump warned that Britain may no longer be America’s “number one ally.”
Trump criticised the UK for not deploying ships to the Middle East, urging NATO allies to help reopen this crucial oil route, with crude prices remaining above $100 per barrel over the weekend.
Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer told reporters at a briefing: “It’s moments like this that reveal 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 priority—to help you with the cost of living during this crisis.”
“Our priority is always the national interest, and so we have been clear and consistent in our objectives throughout this conflict,” Starmer added.
“First, we will protect our people in the region. Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, we will not be drawn into the wider war.
“And third, we will keep working towards a swift resolution that brings security and stability back to the region and stops the Iranian threat to its neighbours.
“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.”
The government announced targeted support for 1.5 million households that rely on heating oil, whose costs have surged by 80% in just one week. Treasury officials confirmed that funds have been secured to subsidise heating oil, with £53 million allocated for households most affected by these price shocks.
Starmer also promised a legal directive for energy companies to ensure that savings from last year’s budget reach customers directly. He confirmed that fuel duty cuts would continue until September. Additionally, a cheap-fuel finder tool will require petrol stations to publish live prices, and energy bills will be capped until the end of June.
The Prime Minister’s measures aim to ease the financial burden on households amid the global energy crisis and growing tensions in the Middle East.
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