British govt reveals plan for fuel price protection

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a support package worth tens of millions of pounds to shield householders from the financial impact on their energy bills of the ongoing war in Iran.

The conflict has seen the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut to all shipping, with a knock-on effect on the price of petrol at gas stations and also global fuel supplies.

In a media conference at his Downing Street office, Starmer said: "It's moments like this that tell you 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 first priority — to help you with the cost of living through this crisis."

The country's energy watchdog, Ofgem, has a price cap in place to ensure consumers are not left open to excessive rises, but it is estimated that 6 percent of homes in the country, particularly in rural areas, use heating oil, which is not covered by the cap.

In Northern Ireland, almost two-thirds of houses use heating oil, and there have been reports of some previously scheduled oil deliveries being canceled or renegotiated since prices went up, allegations that are being looked at by the Competition and Markets Authority.

"I will not tolerate companies trying to exploit this crisis to make money from working people," Starmer added.

The volatility of the situation meant he is not in a position to make long-term plans, as Starmer explained to Sky News, saying he was "absolutely determined to clamp down on anybody who may think of ripping others off in a situation like this … but I'm not going to say to you now, because so much is unknown, what we might do in July.

"We're not ruling anything out, but it is very difficult to say at this juncture what the position will be in July, which is when the current energy cap runs out, or what the position will be in September," the UK's prime minister said.

The best way to bring the situation under control, he added, was a deescalation of military tensions in the Gulf, and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz at the earliest possibility.

julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com