Starmer proclaims £53m assist plan for ‘most uncovered’ households to sort out oil costs

Sir Keir Starmer has announced £53 million in support for “those households that are most exposed” to rising heating oil prices.

The Prime Minister pledged to help UK households with the cost of living amid the energy price spike caused by the war in the Middle East.

Speaking in Downing Street on Monday morning (March 16), Starmer said: “I’m announcing immediate support for vulnerable heating oil customers today, providing £53 million for those households that are most exposed.”

He added: “This Government will always support working people. That is my first instinct, my first priority, to help you with the cost of living throughout this crisis.”

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Treasury officials have “found the money” to help the 1.5 million households relying on the fuel.

Heating oil is not protected by the energy price cap and its price per litre has doubled as a result of the stranglehold on oil leaving the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began.

It comes as the Government will give “legal direction” to energy companies to pass on “every penny of the savings that we delivered at last year’s budget” to consumers, Starmer confirmed.

The Prime Minister set out a five-step plan “to tackle the cost of living”.

He said “First, we have capped energy bills until the end of June, saving the average household £117. That’s in addition to the warm homes discount of £150 for the most vulnerable in society, no matter what happens now in energy markets. In three weeks’ time, your energy bills will be cut and then capped for the next three months.

“And I can announce today that we’re giving a legal direction to the energy companies to ensure that every penny of the savings that we delivered through last year’s budget is passed directly on to customers to keep bills as low as possible.

“Second, we have extended the cut in fuel duty until September, and we’ve introduced the cheap Fuel Finder, forcing petrol stations to publish their live prices to make it easier for drivers to choose the lowest price.”

The Prime Minister also raised concerns about claims that suppliers of heating oil have cancelled orders and then hiked prices.

He said: “I simply will not allow companies to make huge profits from the hardship of working people. That kind of conduct is completely unacceptable, so if the companies have broken the law, there will be legal action.”

The Prime Minister also has said the UK is working with other countries, including in Europe, to develop a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following US President Donald Trump seemingly requesting help.

Starmer said : “Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability on the market. That is not a simple task.

“So we’re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable, collective plan that can restore the freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease economic impact.”

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