Ed Miliband Takes Aim At Trump's War In Iran Amid Rise In UK Energy Bills

Summary

Ed Miliband has hit out at Donald Trump’s ongoing war in Iran after the energy price cap increased. Regulator Ofgem has just announced the energy price cap will be going up by 13% between July 1 and September 30. That means the average gas and electricity bill will increase to £1,862 a year, adding a significant strain to households across the country. Responding to the concerning update, energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “The rise in the price cap because of a war we did not choose is deeply unwelcome news for households across the country.” Trump worked with his Israeli allies to launch an attack on Iran at the end of February. Iranian troops responded by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane which is responsible for transporting a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Three months later, the effective closure of the waterway continues as negotiation efforts stall – meaning energy prices around the world have gone up. The US did ask to use British military bases to initiate preemptive strikes on Iran, but Starmer declined, only allowing the sites to be used for defensive action. The UK, along with European allies, also turned down Trump’s plea to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to force it to reopen. The war has opened a chasm in diplomatic relations between the White House and Downing Street, as Starmer insists Britain will not be drawn into a “wider war”. Miliband said the government would continue trying to help the public amid rising bills, adding: “We know people were under pressure before this crisis, and that’s why easing that burden is our number one priority. ” He pointed out that chancellor Rachel Reeves froze fuel duty and made bus travel free for children across England in August. The cabinet minister noted that the government has also taken £150 average costs off energy bills for the years ahead, and extended the Warm Home Discount for around six million families, too. Miliband said: “We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. “In the immediate term it is essential to de-escalate this conflict to bring oil and gas prices down and as Britain faces the second fossil fuel crisis of this decade, we must learn the right lessons. “The way to get bills down for good and avoid these price spikes is to go further and faster with this government’s drive for clean homegrown power we control. We are upgrading as many homes as possible ahead of winter with the biggest investment in warm homes in British history.” Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, warned that this would be a very troubling update for the elderly. She said: “Even during this unprecedented hot weather for May, older people on low incomes are already worrying about how they will afford to stay warm next winter. “We know that today’s price cap increase is the shape of worse to come when the next price cap is announced, because by then the impact of the war in the Middle East will really be feeding through into prices. “Unfortunately, these elevated energy costs due to the war will hit just at the time when pensioners will need their heating the most, as we head into winter.” Age UK urged the government to come up with “an effective plan now to help older people on low incomes to get through the coming winter unscathed”. Abrahams added: “It’s imperative that we avoid a repeat of the 2024/5 winter, when millions of older people were cold in their own homes.” Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.