Shocking new energy prices for oil and gas have provided Andy Burnham and his chancellor John Healey with a major setback as the prime minister vowed to put spending on social care at the heart of his next election manifesto.
The figures disclosed to The Independent, which the Treasury will have seen, show that oil prices are 154 per cent above the pre Iran conflict level of 77.6p per therm on 27 February. Meanwhile, gas prices are up 43 per cent since the war began.
