Afternoon summary
Keir Starmer is chairing a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee to consider how the government deals with the economic consequences of the Iran war. Giving evidence to the Commons liaison committee earlier, he said that he had told his team that they should plan “on the basis that it could go on for some time” (see 2.42pm) and he hinted that any programme to help people with energy bills would be targeted at those most in need (see 3.35pm).
Starmer has delivered a veiled rebuke to Donald Trump over the president’s repeated insults about him recently, suggesting to the liaison committee that these comments have been made “to put pressure on me” and that he has been refusing to respond directly because he is “unapologetic” about remaining “utterly focused” on his job. (See 4.47pm.) Starmer did not refer to Trump by name, but this is about the closest he has come to a considered response to Trump’s numerous provocations, which have included the president yesterday posting on his Truth Social platform a TV sketch mocking Starmer as afraid of him. (See 9.31am.)
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
Former Tory justice secretary Robert Buckland to lead review into murder of David Amess
Robert Buckland, the former Tory justice secretary, has been appointed to lead an independent review “to explore any missed opportunities that could have prevented the murder of Sir David Amess”, the Home Office has announced.
The Home Office said:
While this will be subject to agreement, it is expected that the terms of reference will seek to address any unanswered questions the Amess family have regarding the murder of Sir David Amess.
The reviewer will engage relevant experts and draw upon extant material from the trial of Sir David’s murderer and from reviews which have previously taken place, including the initial Prevent learning review and the Independent Prevent Commissioner’s review published in July 2025.
More details on the terms of reference will be published once established.
How petrol and diesel prices have risen in UK since Iran war started
Figures from the RAC show the average price of unleaded fuel has risen more than 14p a litre to 147.19p since the end of February, adding £8 to the cost of filling up a family car which currently stands at £81, the Press Association reports. PA says:
Petrol prices were last this high in early June 2024, the RAC added.
For drivers of diesel vehicles, the situation is “far worse” with a litre up 29p to 171.17p, its highest price since mid-January 2023.
This means a tank now costs £94, £16 more than it did at the start of the Middle East conflict.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Given how many rely on their cars, households are really feeling the effects of the conflict in the Middle East.
“As a barrel of oil has been trading well over 100 dollars for the last three days and looks set to remain at that level, drivers are in for a rough ride at the pumps in the run-up to the Easter break with no end to price increases in sight.
“With the price of petrol likely to go above 150p a litre in the next week and diesel heading to 180p, it’s looking like it will be the most expensive Easter on the roads since the early days of the war in Ukraine in 2022.”
Iranian ambassador summoned by Foreign Office over alleged hostile surveillance in UK
Iran’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the Foreign Office over his country’s “reckless and destabilising actions” in Britain and overseas, the Press Association reports. PA says:
Seyed Ali Mousavi was called into the Foreign Office after an Iranian and a British-Iranian dual national were accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on London’s Jewish community.
The Foreign Office said the UK takes the threat posed by Iran and its proxies “extremely seriously”.
The diplomat was summoned on the instruction of Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, and was met by Middle East minister Hamish Falconer.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “The summons follows the recent charging of two individuals, one Iranian national and one British-Iranian dual national, under the National Security Act, on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.
“National security remains our top priority, and we take threats posed by Iran and those who do its bidding extremely seriously.
“This government will take all measures necessary to protect the British people, including exposing Iran’s reckless and destabilising actions at home and abroad.”
Updated
In the Commons, responding to John Healey (see 4.24pm), James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, accused the government of “extraordinary double standards”, claiming the UK had been “relying on the US to defend us whilst denying them the use of our bases”.
Starmer says he's 'unapologetic' about staying focused on national interest, when asked how he copes with 'rude' Trump
Meg Hillier ended the liaison committee hearing by pointing out to Starmer that it must be challenging dealing with Donald Trump, who could be “quite rude” about the UK one day, and different the next day. It must be like dealing with different presidents, she said. She asked him if he had a message for the country about how he coped with this.
Starmer replies:
Yes, I’m utterly focused on what’s what’s in the best interests of our country, and I’m unapologetic about that.
And notwithstanding the pressure that comes from elsewhere, I will remain laser-focused on what is in the British national interest.
And a lot of what is said or done is undoubtedly said or done to put pressure on me. I have no doubt about that. I understand exactly what is going on, but I’m not going to be wavering on this.
I’m the British prime minister and my job is to be absolutely focused on what’s in the British national interest.
That has served me well, in recent weeks. And that is the principle that I’ll continue to adhere to as we go forward, taking difficult decisions, notwithstanding the pressure that comes from me from a number of different places.
Updated
Starmer sidesteps questions about which countries could be protected by US strikes happening from British bases
Keir Starmer has said the UK will allow the US to use its bases to attack Iran if it is doing so to attack missile sites being used by the Iranians to attack Britain’s allies in the region. At the weekend the government extended this to authorise US use of UK bases to attack missile sites attacking shipping in the strait of Hormuz.
Meg Hillier asked Starmer to explain which states under international law were being defended under these operations.
Starmer said it was “predominantly our allies in the region”.
When Hillier asked Starmer to name some of those countries, Starmer said it was “all of those in the region”.
Defending the decision to extend the approval mandate at the weekend, Starmer said it was not logical to allow operations against Iranian missile strikes that were hitting hotels, but not if they were hitting ships nearby.
Liam Byrne suggests the UK should introduce “a really hard ban” on imports from illegal settlements. Will you consider that?
Starmer says he would keep this matter under review.
At the liaison committeer Andy Slaughter told Keir Starmer that, although the government had promised concrete action to stop the extension of illegal settlements on the West Bank, nothing seemed to happen.
Starmer did not accept that. He said there had been action.
When Slaughter challenged that, Starmer said this matter was “under consideration”.
HMS Dragon has arrived near Cyprus and will join operations defending it from tonight, Healey tells MPs
John Healey, the defence secretary, has told MPs that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean and will begin “operational integration into Cyprus’s defence” tonight.
In a statement to MPs, he said:
RAF and Navy pilots have now racked up nearly 900 flying hours in defence of Cyprus, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. We have more jets in the region than at any time in the last 15 years.
There are an extra 500 air defence personnel in Cyprus, and as more military capabilities are committed to the eastern Mediterranean, we’re working closely with the Republic of Cyprus to coordinate the contribution of allies, including the US, France and Greece, to reinforce the security of Cyprus.
And I can confirm that HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean and tonight begins operational integration into Cyprus’s defence alongside allies.
Debbie Abrahams asked Starmer about Israel’s treatment on Unwra, the UN refugee agency in Palestine.
Starmer said it was important to the UK to support the UN charter.
Q: The international court of justice has ruled that the occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and must end. This is jeopardising the possibility of a Palestinian state. Will you work with the French, Germans and others on action to address this?
Starmer says the UK’s recognition of the state of Palestine last year, with other countries, was important.
He says the UK has long taken the view that the occupation is unlawful.
Starmer says more countries are backing the statement on reopening the strait of Hormuz issued by the UK and other countries last week.
It’s becoming a bigger group of countries that are committed to working on de-escalation as far as the straits are concerned, which is hugely important for our economy more generally.
Starmer reaffirms commitment not to join Iran conflict, saying 'this is not our war'
Going back to the Iran war, Starmer says the UK has allowed its bases to be used “for the purposes of collective self-defence”.
But he goes on:
But this is not our war, and we are not getting dragged into this war. So that’s the divide that I’ve kept very firmly in place.
Chi Onwurah is asking the questions now.
Q: People voted for Brexit partly because they were worried about losing sovereignty to the EU. Do you think people might feel the same way about US tech giants?
Starmer says he does not want to reopen the Brexit debate. He says there has been a reset in relations with the EU.
On tech, he says the UK has for a long time had a close relationship with the US on issues of defence and security.
(He does not engage with the substance of what Onwurah is asking.)
Q: Are you worried the government is too dependent on Palantir?
Starmer says all the contracts, like those issued to Palantir, go through “a very careful, process”.
Jenkin asks Starmer why the Polish president is saying his country should pull out of Safe because he thinks it would be cheaper for his country to borrow the money itself.
Starmer says he does not know about this, but says he will look into it.
Starmer says he has not given up hope of UK joining EU's Safe defence procurement loan scheme
Q: Do you think the UK will be able to join the EU’s Safe defence procurement loan scheme?
Starmer says he is talking to the EU about this.
He says some EU countries were “disappointed” that the UK was not included. He says there have been “intensive discussions” about resolving this.
Liam Byrne goes next. He puts it to Starmer that the cost of improving the electricity grid should come off energy bills, and should be paid for instead through general taxation.
Starmer says all this should be kept under review. But he says firms and individuals would still end up paying the cost that way.
Bernard Jenkin comes in again. He says the government has an “ideological bias against exploiting our own natural gas resources”.
Starmer does not accept that. But he says decisions have to be made in accordance with the law.
In response to a question from Jamie Stone, Starmer says he cannot comment on proposals to extend drilling in the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields in the North Sea because they are subject to quasi-judicial proceeedings. He goes on:
But oil and gas will be part of the mix for a long time to come.
Talking about the need to boost renewable energy production, Starmer confirms he is spending a lot of time working on plans to modernise the electricity grid. “When I came into politics in 2015. I never thought I’d spend so much of my time talking about the grid,” he says. But it is vital, he says. He says the government is making “real progess” upgrading it.
Starmer hints further energy support might be targeted, not universal, as he stresses cost of Tories' universal energy bailout
Q: In terms of helping people out with energy bills, are you looking at targeted support, or a universal offer?
Starmer says ministers will discuss this later at Cobra.
We’re looking this afternoon at the approach we might take, acutely aware of how much it cost last time round. And I’m acutely aware of the state of the public finances. We will look this afternoon at what the appropriate approach is.
There are difficulties in that. We don’t yet know the extent of the challenge we’re facing because we don’t know when this conflict is going to come to an end. But we’re actively looking at what measures we can put in place.
Although non-commital, Starmer’s reference to costs implies the government would opt for a tareted approach, not a universal one.
Jeremy Hunt, who was chancellor when the Tories finalised their energy support package in 2022, has recently said Starmer should go for a targeted model, not a universal one of the kind he implemented.
Starmer declines to back Labour peer's call for cap on energy company profits
Q: Are you going to follow Richard Walker’s advice and impose a cap on profit for energy companies?
Starmer says he has seen this proposal. But he implies his priority is to get the Competition and Makets Authority to address profiteering.
UPDATE: Starmer said:
I’ve just seen him to say we need to discuss those proposals urgently together, but we are looking at measures to deal with profiteering.
I’ve already asked the CMA to look at this, I think we might look at what further teeth we can give the CMA to deal with this.
I think there isn’t enough regulation in this area. I want to see more on price gouging or profiteering.
We absolutely need to bear down on it, and so we’re actively considering whether the CMA should have additional powers to deal specifically with that, but at the moment, we’re making sure they’re focused on anti-profiteering steps that they can take.
Updated
Jenkin says the way war fought has changed enormously in the past 12 months.
Starmer says he knows that.
Jenkin says the Ukrainians want to be able to help with the supply of drones for the Middle East, but are being held up by the absence of a defence investment plan.
Starmer does not accept that. He says he spoke to President Zelenskyy about this only last week. He goes on:
Just for the record, he did not say that anything that they want to do is being held up by anything the UK is doing. On the contrary, he sees us as their foremost ally and I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to achieve that, actually, on a cross-party basis.
Q: Why was Cyprus left undefended?
Starmer does not accept that it was.
He says the defence investment plan is being finalised.
Jenkin says this answer “smacks of enormous complacency”.
Starmer replies:
This smacks of the fact that for years there was underinvestment by the last government, and the stripping out and hollowing out of our armed forces.
Starmer accused by Tory Bernard Jenkin of not accepting UK in effect already at war
Bernard Jenkin goes next. He says it is “ludicrous” to suggest that the delay in the publication of the defence investment plan is not holding up procurement.
Starmer says he wants to ensure investment is sustainable. He goes on:
Everybody now accepts that the last government didn’t invest anything like enough, in our defence. And we’re picking that up and turning it around.
But what I’m not going to do is put a plan that I can’t explain exactly how it’s going to be funded.
Jenkin says the Treasury does not seem to appreciate the urgency for this. He says:
We are already at war, and we need to be in a war fighting mentality to deal with the emergencies that we’re facing.
Starmer says he accepts that. But he says he needs to know where the investment is coming from.
But I’m also clearing up the mess that I’ve inherited because we can’t go on in the way that [I saw had been happening] when I opened the books and saw the way this has been done for years.
Jenkin criticises Starmer for being party political. He says the UK needs to be on a war footing now, and it isn’t.
Starmer says the strategic defence review will put the UK on a war footing.
Because the strategic review commits us to a war footing, and we now need to put the funding in place to increase defence spending to 2.5%, something that didn’t happen under the last government, and where at the election a credible proposition wasn’t put forward by your party.
Jenkin says Starmer sounds as if he does not realise the UK is at war now.
Starmer replies:
I’m clearing up the mess that I inherited from the last government.
Jenkin says Churchill probably thought he had inherited a mess from his predecessor too.
Updated
Q: What are you doing on MoD recruitment?
Starmer replies:
We are turning around the recruitment, and we’re now recruiting at a higher rate than was previously the case, holding on to people and retaining people for longer.
Starmer says he does not want to see Type 31 frigate orders delayed
Patricia Ferguson goes next.
Q: Are the reports true about Type 31 frigate orders being delayed?
Starmer says he does not want delays.
And that’s why I’m insisting that there shouldn’t be any delays in the order. It’s really important that those orders continue in the way that is expected.
Q: When will the defence investment plan be published?
Starmer says the government is “working hard to finalise it”.
Starmer says public should not be worried risk of missile attack, saying military doing 'very good job' protecting UK
Q: “If Iran, or another adversary such as Russia were to launch ballistic missiles towards the UK, how would we defend ourselves?”
Starmer says the government is continually monitoring the qualify of its air defence systems.
Q: But we don’t have an equivalent of the Golden Dome air defence system.
Starmer replies:
We constantly assess this and we do have very effective ways of defending ourselves.
And I don’t want to raise levels of public anxiety. They’re anxious about what they’re already seeing on their television screens. They’re anxious about the impact it will have on them, particularly economically in their households, and I don’t want to raise their levels of anxiety.
I can tell you, our military personnel, our security and intelligence services are working literally 24 over seven to keep us safe and doing a very good job in that regard.
Dhesi suggests the failure to deploy a ship ahead of the war started shows the armed force are “under-resourced and overstretched”.
Starmer says that is a result of the inheritance he had from the Conservatives.
Starmer accepts HMS Dragon was not in the theatre when the war started. But it normally takes six weeks to deploy, he said. He says the navy was able to get it ready to deploy within six days.
Starmer rejects claim UK not ready with military deployments when Iran war started
Tan Dhesi is asking the questions now.
Q: Isn’t it embarrassing that we did not have a single navy asset in the area when the war started?
Starmer does not accept Dhesi is right. He replies:
I don’t think that’s actually right. During January and February, we obviously could see the buildup. We were working very closely with the US on intelligence and therefore we pre-deployed quite a lot of assets to the region.
Just to reassure you, radar systems were pre -eployed, counter drone systems were pre-deployed, F-35 jets were deployed in greater number than were already there. Ground based air defence was deployed. 400 extra UK personnel were deployed and autonomous mine hunting systems were deployed.
Rachel Reeves to make statement to MPs tomorrow about economic response to Iran war crisis, Starmer says
Starmer says the govenrment has already made an announcement about heating oil.
At Cobra today minister will look at what wider measures might be needed to deal with the economic consequences of the war.
He says Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, will make a statement to MPs tomorrow about this.
Starmer says he does not 'meaningful concern' about UK running short of energy supplies
Starmer says the government does not have any “meaningful concern” about energy supplies in the UK.
I can reassure the committee that we haven’t any meaningful concern about energy supplies.
Obviously, the price fluctuates daily for household energy bills. It is important for me to reiterate that they will be cut because of the measures we took in the budget last year and then held until the end of June.
Updated
Starmer says No 10 planning on basis Iran war 'could go on for some time'
Q: Should people be planning for disruption that might go on for months? Or can this conclude in days, as Trump suggests?
Starmer jokes about not knowing how to answer that question, in a reference to Trump being unpredictable.
He goes on to say the government is planning “on the basis that it could go on for some time”.
I’ve been really clear with the team that we mustn’t fall in to the false comfort of thinking that there will necessarily be a quick and early end to this.
Starmer says he was aware of US-Iran talks that led to Trump shelving bombing ultimatum
Liam Byrne asks the first set of questions.
Q: How long do you think the Iran conflict will last?
Starmer replies:
My very strong view is we need to de-escalate and bring it into this conflict as swiftly as possible. And we’ve been working with another a number of countries, in that, regard.
And to that end, I welcome, the talks, reported between the US and Iran.
And to be clear with the committee, we, the UK, were aware that that was happening. And the immediate priority has to be a swift resolution of the conflict and deliver delivering a negotiated, agreement which puts tough conditions on Iran.
Starmer says antisemitic arson attack an attack 'not just on Jewish community', but on everyone who values tolerance
Keir Starmer starts with a comment about the attack on the Jewish ambulance service overnight.
He says:
The idea that ambulances could be considered a target is simply horrendous. And I know the impact that that will have had on so many individuals, not just those, in the area …
The whole Jewish community, across the country, not least, because this is not an isolated incident and the rise of antisemitic hatred is there for all to see.
He confirms that the government will replace the ambulances. He goes on:
That is the right thing to do. But it also underscores what I think is a really important principle that this is not just an attack on the Jewish community, but it’s attack on all of us, on everyone who holds the fundamental British values of tolerance and respect.
Starmer says he has also discussed this today with Sarah Sackman, the constituency MP, and with Jewish leaders.
Updated
Meg Hillier, the committee chair, opens the session by saying that Emily Thornberry, the foreign affairs committee chair, is not here, even though the hearing will be mostly about foreign affairs, because she is on a long-planned trip with her committee to Greenland.
Starmer to face questions from Commons liaison committee
There are 11 MPs from the Commons liaison committee who will get a chance to question Keir Starmer when he appears before them at 2.30pm. The committee has 31 members, and so they don’t all turn up for these sessions. Here are the 10 who will be there today, as well as the chair, Meg Hillier.
Debbie Abrahams, work and pensions
Liam Byrne, business and trade
Sarah Champion, international development
Tan Dhesi, defence
Bill Esterson, energy security and net zero
Patricia Ferguson, Scottish affairs
Bernard Jenkin MP, statutory instruments
Chi Onwurah, science, innovation and technology
Andy Slaughter, justice
Jamie Stone MP, petitions
According to the committee, “questions are likely to range across defence, the Middle East, the UK’s economic security and the economic impact of the conflict in Iran. There may also be interest in issues relating to Palestine and defending democracy.”
Badenoch admits Tory 'lower taxes' pledge in local elections does not necessarily mean council tax cuts
Kemi Badenoch has admitted that, when the Conservatives campaign promising “lower taxes” at local elections, they are not necessarily committing to tax cuts.
Instead, in an interview with Kit Bradshaw from ITV Meridian, Badenoch said that “lower taxes” meant people would be paying less than they would with other parties in power in local government.
EXC: Kemi Badenoch has denied that a local election slogan to 'lower taxes' meant council tax would actually go down.
— Kit Bradshaw (@kitbradshaw) March 23, 2026
The Conservative Leader told me: "Council tax goes up with inflation… We’re not saying people are going to have less [tax] than they paid before."@itvmeridian pic.twitter.com/zudnGOyczp
Bradshaw asked why Tory-run West Sussex county council was putting council tax up by 4.99%, the maximum allowed, when the Tories campaigned promising “lower taxes”.
In response, Badenoch said council tax went up for various reasons, including inflation. She said the Tory slogan meant they were promising lower rates of tax than would apply with other parties in charge.
Commenting on the interview, Anna Turley, the Labour party chair, said:
Both Reform and the Tories are proving their promises have no meaning.
Farage and Reform pledged to cut taxes and waste but are hiking taxes and cutting services. Now Kemi Badenoch has let slip she’ll do the same, admitting a Tory promise on tax isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. They’re both trying to play the public for fools and you can’t trust a word they say.
Updated
Keir Starmer says the government will consider “every lever” it could use to help people with the cost of living during the Iran war. (See 9.40am.) In a statement, Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, suggests some levers Starmer could pull.
Keir Starmer has said that he will look at every lever available to deal with this crisis. I’ve set out how this government can prevent an unbearable rise in the cost of living for households across the UK: a guarantee that the price cap will not rise past June, paid for using a rise in capital gains tax and a tightened windfall tax; ending the price of gas artificially inflating all energy costs; and rent controls as the Spanish government have brought in. Will he now apply those levers?
Defence secretary John Healey to make statement to MPs about Iran war
At 3.30pm John Healey, the defence secretary, will make a statement to MPs about the Iran war.
After that is over, probably at around 5pm, Dan Jarvis, the security minister, will make a statement about arson attack against the Hatzola Northwest Jewish ambulance service.
No 10 won't say if Starmer explicitly urged Trump to shelve his power plants bombing ultimatum to Iran
At the Downing Street lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson would not say whether or not Keir Starmer urged Donald Trump to drop his threat to bomb Iran’s power plants when they spoke yesterday. The spokesperson said he did not want to go beyond what was said in the readout issued last night. (See 9.31am.) But he said the UK had “obviously been speaking for some time now that we want to see a swift resolution to the war”. He also said Starmer had been clear about the need for the strait of Hormuz to be reopened.
Earlier today Trump did shelve his threat to bomb Iran’s power plants if it had not reopened the strait by midnight tonight GMT. (See 11.24am.)
No 10 defends delay in disclosing Iranian missile attacks aimed at Diego Garcia in Chagos Islands
At the Downing Street lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson also defended the government’s decision not to immediately disclose the news that Iran had fired two missiles towards the Diego Garcia US/UK military base on the Chagos Islands. News of this attack first came out in America.
On Saturday Kemi Badenoch issued a statement about this saying:
Now we find out, from the media and not the prime minister, that the British base on Diego Garcia has been the target of Iranian missile attacks. As we saw with Peter Mandelson, Starmer’s first instinct is always to cover up the truth.
Asked why the government did not tell the public about this earlier, the PM’s spokesperson said:
The government has always been clear about the threats that Iran’s indiscriminate attacks pose to British nationals, British interests, and our partners, and that is why we have been conducting defensive operations in the Middle East since the beginning of this conflict.
We do not routinely comment on the detail of these threats due to the nature of intelligence sharing.
We also do not immediately confirm events in a fast-moving conflict, particularly where doing so could risk the safety of our military personnel, or compromise ongoing operations.
Asked if the attack meant that Britain was at risk from an Iranian long-range missile, the spokesperson replied:
To be clear, and to reassure people, we have got the military capability we need in the UK to keep people safe from any kind of attacks, whether it is on our soil or from abroad.
He said that air and missile defence was “provided by Royal Navy, British army and Royal Air Force assets, with advance capabalities”, working in tandem with Nato allies. And this was an area the goverment had prioritised, he said.
He also said there was no assessement that Iran was trying to attack Europe with missiles. He went on:
Even if they did, we have the military capability we need to keep the UK safe.
No 10 says 'productive talks' between US and Iran welcome in response to Trump suspending threat to bomb power plants
Downing Street has given a qualified welcome to the announcement from Donald Trump this morning that he has suspended plans to bomb Iranian power plants to allow negotiationn to continue. (See 11.24am.) At the No 10 lobby briefing, asked about the president’s statement this morning, the PM’s spokesperson said:
Any reports of productive talks are welcome. We’ve always said that swift resolution to the war is in global interests and that the strait of Hormuz specifically needs to be reopened. You will have seen, with the joint statement that we released with partners last week, that’s a priority for us.
Asked if the UK was aware of what Trump described as the “very good and productive conversations” the US has had with Iran over the past two days, or involved with them, the spokesperson said he had nothing to add to the readout issued last night about Keir Starmer’s call with Trump.
No 10 won't comment on Trump posting sketch mocking Starmer on social media, saying PM 'entirely focused on job'
Downing Street has chosen to ignore Donald Trump posting a TV sketch on social media mocking Keir Starmer. At the lobby briefing, asked how Starmer reacted to Trump posted the sketch on his Social Media platform yesterday, before he and Starmer spoke by phone (see 9.31am), the PM’s spokesperson said:
The prime minister is entirely focused on the job in hand. He obviously had a good conversation with the president. They discussed the conflict and the strait or Hormuz.
The prime minister has repeatedly been clear that we’re not going to be drawn into this wider war. We’re taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies, but we are not going to be dragged into this wider war.
Asked if Starmer found the sketch funny, the spokesperson said he was not aware if Starmer had seen the clip. The PM was “entirely focused” on responding in the British national interest.
The spokesperson sidestepped a question about whether Trump’s decision to post the clip on social media meant he wasn’t entirely focused on the job in hand.
Updated
Housing minister said the government “will not accept profiteering” from energy companies
In his LBC interview this morning Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, said the government “will not accept profiteering” from energy companies in the light of prices rising globally. (See 11.36am.) This is a line that all ministers have been using for some time now since the war started.
In his Inside Politics newsletter for the Financial Times, Stephen Bush says rhetoric like this is unfair on the oil companies. He explains:
When ministers talk about “profiteering”, do they understand that in part, what they are seeing as “increased profits” are the result of Europe bidding up the price of oil and gas that would previously have been sold in the Indian subcontinent?
Now, you can make an absolutely watertight case, morally, that it is a bad thing that in an energy market with reduced supply, the rich world is going to outbid the poor world. I just don’t think that politicians in any rich world democracy – which the UK still is, for now – can make this argument successfully …
I can’t work out which I think is worse: that the government genuinely believes some of the things it has said about profiteering and energy costs over the past few weeks, or if the government is simply being cynical, feels it can’t openly blame Donald Trump for increased costs but thinks it can get away with blaming the energy companies and petrol stations for them.
Updated
Graeme Wearden on his business blog says the FTSE 100 share index is up, and oil prices down, following Donald Trump’s latest Taco (“Trump always chickens out”) this morning. (See 11.24am.)
We will hear the Downing Street view soon. The lobby briefing is just getting under way.
Minister says there's 'huge differentiation' in petrol prices around country, implying some firms are profiteering
Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, was speaking for the government on the morning news programmes earlier. Speaking to LBC, he confirmed that the government wanted the Competition and Markets Authority to deal with any potention profiteering by oil companies. Pennycook said prices were “prices are soaring in places” and “we’re seeing a huge differentiation in prices across the country, which is why the CMA have put fuel retailers on notice”.
Trump says he's postponing strikes on Iranian power plants for a five day period
Donald Trump has said he has instructed the defence department to postpone all airstrikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, Yohannes Lowe reports. This is subject to the “success” of ongoing “meetings and discussions”, Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Yohannes has more on our Middle East crisis live blog.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, is due to make a written ministerial statement today about HS2. According to a report by Jim Pickard and Gill Plimmer in the Financial Times, she will tell HS2 management to explore how they could save costs by cutting the maximum speed at which HS2 trains would be able to run. Pickard and Plimmer explain:
Key to Alexander’s thinking is that HS2 trains are being built with a specification to run at up to 360km per hour, which would make it one of the fastest lines in the world – although they were not expected to run faster than 330km per hour most of the time.
Ministers believe that HS2 would have to either send the new trains as far as China to test them on an existing high-speed track, or wait until a bespoke test track is built in the UK. That would not be the case if the trains were to run at a slower speed, the government believes.
“If you look at potentially reducing it down to about 320kph across the piece, then you save potentially billions of pounds in construction costs as well as some years off the timeframe for delivery,” the official said.
Streeting says government will fund replacement ambulances for those destroyed in antisemitic arson attack
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has said the government will provide help for the Jewish community ambulance service, Hatzola Northwest, which had four vehicles damaged or destroyed in an arson attack.
Speaking to the media on a visit to the site of the attack in Golders Green, north London, Streeting said:
The Jewish community should not be left footing the bill for this despicable attack, which is why tomorrow morning, at the latest, we will have four ambulances in place to replace those that have been destroyed, and we’ll be working to replace those ambulances on a permanent basis, and we will fund the replacement of those ambulances.
Those responsible for this attack must know that the Jewish community will not face up to this hatred alone. The whole country will stand with them.
According to Richard Spencer and Matt Dathan in the Times, at the Cobra meeting this afternoon ministers will discuss giving the Competition and Markets Authorities new powers to stop energy companies profiteering from the global oil and gas shortage. They say:
A government source said: “We’re looking at strengthening the Competition and Markets Authority so it can go after more firms ripping people off. We want to check that it has the necessary powers to ensure families struggling with the cost of living are properly protected.”
And in the Daily Telegraph, Christopher Jasper and Genevieve Holl-Allen say ministers will discuss how to avoid triggering panic buying at petrol stations. They report:
One source said the government was grappling with “behavioural science’’ and studying the 2021 fuel-supply crisis – the first for two decades – which saw pumps run dry across the country after reports of a shortage of tanker drivers.
While Britain produces more than enough petrol to cover demand, the bulk of diesel volumes come from imports, which could be disrupted as Iran continues to prevent shipping leaving the Persian Gulf.Ministers are said to be nervous about communicating any concerns about fuel supplies for fear of sparking a rush to the pumps.
DfE says new school nurseries will cut childcare costs in poorest areas
Keir Starmer was visiting a school in south-east London this morning to publicise a government announcement about another 331 schools in England getting funding to build or expand nurseries.
In its news release, the Department for Education says:
A further 331 schools across the country have been successful in applying for a share of £45 million funding to build or expand nurseries on their site. The new nurseries will add to the vibrant childcare market and create over 6,000 more childcare places for children from St Ives to Gateshead, on top of the up to 6,000 already being delivered from the first phase of the programme.
New figures published today show over a million parents now use the government’s funded childcare offer. But the data also reveals lower take-up in poorer communities, highlighting the need to target new places where families face the biggest barriers to accessing childcare.
School-based nurseries already play a major role in filling those gaps, making up around 35% of childcare provision in the most deprived areas, compared with 16% in the least deprived.
Starmer condemns 'horrific antisemitic attack' on Jewish community ambulance service in London
Keir Starmer has described the arson attack on a Jewish community ambulance service in Golders Green, north London, as “horrific” antisemitism.
Asked about the attack, he told broadcasters:
This is a horrific antisemitic attack. And of course my thoughts, I think all of our thoughts, will be with those in the vicinity, the residents who are understandably very concerned, the Jewish community across the country deeply concerned.
I’ve already been in touch with community leaders this morning and will continue to do so during the day.
But antisemitism has no place in our society and it’s really important that we all stand together at a moment like this.
Here is Kevin Rawlinson’s story about the incident, which is being treated by the police as an antisemitic hate crime.
Starmer says there's 'no assesssment' saying Iran targeting Britain with long-range missiles
Keir Starmer has also dismissed suggestions that people in Britain at risk from missiles fired from Iran.
At the weekend there was suggestion that the UK might be vulnerable after it emerged that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at the UK/US military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.
Even though one missile was intercepted, and another fell short and did not reach its target, the attack generated concern because it had been assumed that Iran did not have long-range missiles with the capacity to reach London (2,700 miles from Tehran), let alone Diego Garcia (3,300 miles from Tehran).
Asked if Britain was within range of Iranian missiles, Starmer replied:
We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there’s no assessment that we’re being targeted in that way at all.
But of course, it’s my job to ensure that British interests, British lives are always uppermost in my mind.
What we need here is de-escalation, and that’s why we had a statement from a number of countries last week about what we need to do about the strait of Hormuz, which obviously needs careful coordination and a viable plan.
Asked specifically about the missiles aimed at the Chagos Islands, Starmer said these were “reckless acts by Iran against British interests” but that neither of them reached the target.
Starmer says ministers will look at 'every lever' available to help people with cost of living at Cobra meeting on Iran war
Keir Starmer has said ministers will consider “every lever” available to them to help people with the cost of living when the Cobra emergency committee meets to discuss the war in Iran this afternoon.
Speaking to in a pooled TV interview while on a visit this morning, he said:
Cobra is the opportunity at the highest level to bring people together on matters of real, significant national importance.
Obviously Cobras are usually used for military considerations, consular considerations, but I think with the Iran war, most people are very concerned now, not only what they’re seeing on their screens in relation to the conflict itself, but also that question of: ‘How is it going to affect me and my family?’
And so today we’re looking at the economic impact, and I am asking for every lever that’s available to the government to deal with the cost of living to be discussed at Cobra.
Hence we’ve got the Bank of England and others there.
But I want to make sure that when it comes to the cost of living, we’re doing everything we possibly can at a very difficult period like this.
He also said he knew the cost of living was “the number one issue in the minds of people across the country”. He went on:
It’s really important for me to emphasise that this government always has the cost of living, centre of our mind when we’re making decisions,
Graeme Wearden has a good summary of this morning’s economic news on his business live blog.
Updated
No 10 says Starmer had 'constructive' call with Trump after he shares TV sketch mocking PM as scared of him
Good morning. It is the last week the Commons is sitting before the Easter recess and, in normal circumstances, we would be focusing on domestic policy, and announcements coming out before the holiday period. But today, with the world focused on what will happen if Iran does not comply with the “deadline” set by Donald Trump for the opening of the strait of Hormuz tonight (he says he will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if he does not get his way), foreign policy will dominate.
Starmer has two important meetings on the topic this afternoon. One of them will be live on TV, but unfortunately it will be the duller and less consequential one – his meetinng with the Commons liaison committee. After that he will chair a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee, where the government will be taking decisions about how it will respond to the possibility that the energy price crisis could get significantly worse. In a sign of how serious the economic consequences could get, Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, is attending.
Ultimately, what happens in the UK will largely be determined by what happens in Washington, and whether Trump decides to escalate or de-escalate, and, frankly, that is anyone’s guess. He implies one thing at one moment, and something completely different at another point. His defenders say he’s a brilliant exponent of the madman theory of diplomacy; the alternative view is that he is just mad.
Starmer actually spoke to him last night, and this is what a No 10 spokesperson said about the call after it was over.
The prime minister spoke to the president of the United States, Donald Trump, this evening.
The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping.
They agreed that reopening the strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market.
They agreed to speak again soon.
Starmer has worked had to establish a cordial relationship with Trump. In line with almost every PM since the second world war, he has worked on the basis that being polite in public allows the UK to exercise influence on the administration in private. But Starmer spoke to Trump last night only hours after the president posted a clip on his Truth Social account of a sketch from Saturday Night Live UK brutally mocking the prime minister as someone scared of him. (You can watch it here, although I wouldn’t bother because, as comedy, it’s abysmal.)
And Starmer does not seem to be exerting much influence. The No 10 readout suggests that Starmer and Trump did not decide anything substantive; saying they agreeed that “reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market” is a bit like saying they agreed that night followed day.
But No 10 says the call was “constructive”. They say it lasted about 20 minutes.
Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Keir Starmer is on a visit in London where he will speak to broadcasters.
11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing.
2.30pm: Starmer gives evidence to the Commons liaision committee.
2.30pm: Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, is expected to give a Commons statement on the war in Iran.
Afternoon: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the east of England.
Afternoon: Starmer chairs a Cobra meeting
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