Keir Starmer LIVE: PM will announce main vitality payments assist in Iran warfare press convention
Keir Starmer will hold a major press conference at 10:30am where he will announce energy bills support for British families.
The PM will vow to help Brits “whatever challenge lies ahead” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He will say that his top priority is to help working people with “the cost of living through this crisis” and announce plans worth tens of millions of pounds to support people using heating oil to warm their homes.
Mr Starmer is also expected to be challenged on Donald Trump’s demand for Royal Navy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas route being blockaded by Tehran. Overnight, the US President warned the future of Nato is at stake unless allies including the UK offer military aid in the Middle East.
The UK could potentially send mine-hunting drones to the region rather than a warship.
Follow live updates below…
A fire near Dubai Airport cancelled flights
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest, gradually restarted operations after a drone struck a fuel tank and started a fire nearby.
Authorities said it was quickly contained and no injuries were reported. It triggered chaos at the airport with fights cancelled.
Emirates said in a statement that it expects to operate a limited schedule after 10am Dubai local time on Monday, March 16. The airline added that some flights from Monday’s schedule have been cancelled. Read more here.
Iran warns UK it would respond if ‘crime of aggression’ committed
Iran has told the UK to stay out of the fight to secure the Strait of Hormuz, warning it would respond to the “crime of aggression”.
Tehran’s blockade of the sea passage, where 20% of the world’s oil ordinarily passes through each day, is driving up energy prices. Britain is considering sending minehunting drones to help the situation (see below post).
Asked about Britain helping the US unblock the Strait, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, yesterday said: “That would be complicity in the crime of aggression, crime against peace, and that would for sure be responded by Iran.” He added: “We are not at war with the UK”
PM wants ‘swift resolution’ – but ceasefire hopes deteriorate
What action is the UK considering in the Middle East?
Donald Trump has called for allied warships to protect tankers in the region and help unblock Iran’s stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain is not expected to send ships but is considering depolying minehunting drones to secure a key oil shipping route in the Middle East.
Minehunting drones could be sent from the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, which is already currently in the Middle East. Meanwhile officials are exploring the use of interceptor drones, made in the UK for Ukraine to use against Russia, to be used against Iran’s aerial Shahed drones.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “We have an autonomous minehunting capability deployed in the region.”
Starmer will slam energy firms ‘exploiting crisis’
During his speech, the PM will raise concerns about claims of energy suppliers cancelling orders and jacking up prices.
In a searing warning, Mr 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.”
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Energy Secratry Miliband promised to intervene if companies engage in unfair practices that would hit customers facing a rise in the price of home heating oil, which is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap.
Gas and electricity bills are covered by regulator Ofgem’s price cap which is fixed until June. But if the conflict continues and Iran maintains its stranglehold on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, then households could face dramatic hikes. Read the full interview here.
PM faces calls to scrap fuel duty hike
During the press conference, Mr Starmer could be asked about demands for a planned fuel duty hike to be scrapped amid spiralling energy bills due to the war in Iran.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on Sunday hinted ministers may consider ditching the hike. Asked if plans to end the fuel duty freeze in September would be reversed because of spiking oil prices, the Cabinet minister said: “Let me answer that by saying this, which is, I’ll be candid with you, we don’t know how long this conflict is going to go on and therefore, with five months to go until September, we will have to see where we are, obviously.”
He added: “We will stand by the British people in this crisis, and we’ll do what it takes to do that.” Fuel duty, the 52.95p per litre tax on fuel paid at the pump, is due to rise for the first time in 16 years at the end of August.
Support for households who use heating oil to be announced
Targeted support worth tens of millions of pounds is expected to be unveiled for households who rely on heating oil.
It comes after MPs in rural areas warned their constituents living in fuel poverty are unable to heat their homes. The PM visited Northern Ireland last week, where around 60% of households use heating oil and have seen a sharp rise in prices since the start of the war.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the weekend confirmed she had “found the money” to support those who are not protected by the energy price cap.
PM spoke to Donald Trump on phone
On Sunday evening, Keir Starmer spoke to Donald Trump for the first time since the US president called for help from other nations to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
The pair “discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East and the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to end the disruption to global shipping, which is driving up costs worldwide”, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
The PM is expected to be challenged further on his response to Mr Trump’s demands at the press conference this morning.
Trump’s approach to foreign affairs branded ‘transactional’
A Cabinet minister has said Donald Trump has a “transactional” approach to international affairs – and that the UK-US relationship will survive all the “personalities” involved.
DWP Secretary Pat McFadden was asked about Donald Trump saying that if other countries don’t help in sending these ships, it could be very bad for the future of NATO.
He replied: “That’s the president right there. The quote that you’ve just given has summed him up. It’s a very transactional presidency and our job is to navigate this, to always remember that the friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom runs very deep.
“It’s a good relationship. It’s enduring and I think it will outlast all the personalities involved.”
Trump ramps up demands on UK
Donald Trump has over the weekend increased his demands for the UK to help the US repoen the Strait of Hormuz.
The US President wants Royal Navy warships to secure the key oil and gas route, which Iran has blockaded. The UK could potentially send mine-hunting drones to the region rather than a warship.
Overnight, Mr Trump said Nato faces a “very bad” future should its member states fail to help, adding: “We’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them but they won’t be there for us.” He has previously called for the UK, China, France, Japan and South Korea to send ships to secure the route.
PM to slam Badenoch and Farage
Keir Starmer will use his press conference to slam his political opponents Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage over their approach to the Iran crisis.
The Prime Minister is expected to say: “Moments like this also tell you about leadership… Now, there are others who would have made a different decision two weeks ago.
“They would have rushed the UK headlong into this war without the full picture of what they were sending our forces into and without a plan to get us out. That’s not leading, it’s following. My leadership is about standing firm for the British interest. No matter the pressure.
“And I believe time will show that we have the right approach. Right on the economy and the cost of living. Right on defence and energy. And right on this war, in the best interests of the British people.”
Keir Starmer to stage major intervention as spiralling energy bill fears rise
Keir Starmer will today stage a major intervention to reassure British families that he will support them “whatever challenge lies ahead” amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The PM will promise that his top priority is to help working people with “the cost of living through this crisis” as fears grow of spiralling energy bills.
In a press conference in Downing Street at 10:30am, he will announce plans worth tens of millions of pounds to support people using heating oil to warm their homes. He will also raise concerns about claims of suppliers cancelling orders and jacking up prices.
In a searing warning, Mr 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.”
Read a preview of the PM’s speech here.
